Philadelphia Phillies: A potential reunion with Freddy Galvis makes sense

Freddy Galvis would actually help the Philadelphia Phillies in 2021.

I want to make one thing very clear, the Philadelphia Phillies should definitely bring back Didi Gregorius. He was one of their best players in 2020 (both offensively and defensively), and his overall impact on the organization was undeniable. He was universally loved by the fanbase, and players like Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto routinely spoke highly of him.

With prospect Bryson Stott still 1-2 years away in all honesty, having Gregorius as a stopgap option is borderline perfect. He allows the Phillies to continue pushing for a playoff appearance, while keeping the pressure off Stott as he works to develop into the team’s next franchise shortstop.

However, with all that said, it seems pretty darn unlikely that Gregorius will be rocking red and white pinstripes come Opening Day. The Phillies failed to offer him a qualifying offer, and there’s been little talk in terms of the two sides coming together for a future deal. Dave Dombrowski taking over the team’s baseball operations in theory improves the team’s likelihood of bringing back a proven veteran like Gregorius, but it all feels improbable at this point in time.

More from Section 215

If I had to guess, Gregorius will take a nice contract with the Angels, or some other overpay-prone team.

With Didi all but out the door, the Philadelphia Phillies have a pretty glaring hole at shortstop. They could run Jean Segura back over there, but he really struggled in 2019 with his defense. Segura’s name has also popped up in trade talks, as his $14.85 million salary is something the team would like to see come off the books.

The Phillies could also turn to Stott, but that could end in disaster. The 23 year old prospect has looked super promising in the minors thus far, but he also hasn’t played above single-A. Fast tracking him to the majors could seriously stunt his growth.

With all of that context now laid out, this leaves a scenario where Dombrowski and the Phillies could turn to the free agent market to address their shortstop position. They’ll likely get priced out of someone like Marcus Semien or Andrelton Simmons, instead focusing their attention in on a “bargain bin” option.

Enter former Phillie Freddy Galvis, whose current market value is being set at just $1.14 million(!). Galvis is coming off an up-and-down year with the Reds, where he posted a .712 OPS playing at both SS and 2B.

Galvis is obviously nothing special (as we’re all well aware from his time in Philadelphia), but he provides a stopgap for the Phillies at an extremely cheap price. His .247/.291/.385 career slash line is obviously less than ideal, but it’s hard to complain when you’re hypothetically paying him less than $1.5 million.

Next. Philadelphia Phillies: RHP Blake Treinen a prime two-year candidate?. dark

Owner John Middleton has routinely made it clear that he’s pressed to shed salary, and having Galvis hold down the team’s SS position does just that. With the Phils set to “re-tool” in 2021 as opposed to contend, Galvis lines up with their plans pretty accurately. It’s an uninspiring move – no doubt – but it’s better than paying Segura $14+ million, and it’s better than rushing Stott to the major leagues.

Galvis is at least a name worth keeping an eye on as the offseason progresses along.

Home/Philadelphia Phillies