Philadelphia Phillies award second base job, center field role open
The Philadelphia Phillies awarded their second base position to veteran infielder Jean Segura on Wednesday, finalizing what many saw as inevitable just two weeks from spring training.
Segura is coming off a shortened-season where he hit .266 with 51 hits, seven home runs, and struck out 22 more times than he walked.
Whether it’s fair or not, the job went to Segura mainly because he’s limited to that position and the Phillies are paying him too much to bench him. Locked into a contract with two years remaining worth approximately $30 million, Segura’s lack of versatility and hefty salary killed the chances of a younger, cheaper, and more able Scott Kingery to earn the job he was once destined for.
“Scotty is going to fight for his playing time all over the field, in a sense, but Scotty’s versatile, which allows us to give guys days off,” said manager Joe Girardi during Didi Gregorius’ re-introductory Zoom press conference on Tuesday.
Kingery has played six of the eight fielder positions in his young career, mostly seeing time at shortstop or center field. The Phillies have used him as a “super-utility” glove similar to free agent Marwin Gonzalez, who, coincidentally, the team has been connected to this offseason.
Scott Kingery is no longer a Philadelphia Phillies favorite, but he’ll get his chance.
A former second round pick out of the University of Arizona, Kingery was a highly anticipated and touted prospect in the Phillies system who signed a six-year $24 million deal before making his big league debut in 2018.
Since signing that deal Kingery has dealt with an inconsistent bat and injuries, including a COVI-19 diagnosis that seemingly lingered throughout all of the 2020 season.
Girardi laid out several possibilities for Kingery, such as him subbing in at second base for Segura when needed.
Another option would be giving Rhys Hoskins a day off, moving Alec Bohm to first, Segura plays third, and Kingery plays second. Girardi also left the door open to Segura relieving Gregorius at shortstop for Kingery to get time at second.
“There’s going to be plenty of at-bats for Scott Kingery if he produces the way he’s capable of.”
Center field remains an open competition for the Philadelphia Phillies.
One of the other jobs Girardi noted that Kingery will have an opportunity to fight for will be the center field role, which has remained an open competition for six years since Shane Victorino was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Girardi identified center field as “one spot we have to iron out” because they’re “not sure who is going to take hold of it.”
Neither Adam Haseley nor Roman Quinn, both former top prospects in the organization, have been able to secure the starting job despite both having impressive high points when healthy and given the opportunity, They’ve both been on a rollercoaster at the plate and in the field despite having a history of hitting consistently and playing average to above-average defense in their careers.
Also thrown into the center field mix with Haseley, Quinn, and Kingery is Odubel Herrera, who became seemingly exiled by the team after a domestic violence incident with his girlfriend in Atlantic City.
Herrera would be a non-roster invitee if the new front office decides to give him a chance, but that decision hasn’t been made yet.
“We’re still talking through that in particulars,” said team president Dave Dombrowski. “There’s still a couple things we’re working through. The possibility exists.”
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Dombrowski said that if Herrera is invited to Clearwater that he will compete for a starting job, but he couldn’t elaborate on what else they need to see/know before making a decision on inviting Herrera.
A platoon situation is also possible, according to Girardi, who identified Quinn for his speed, Haseley for his on-base percentage and power potential, and Kingery’s ability to “do a little bit of everything.”
“We just want the most production that we can get from that position… you’re looking for someone to just say ‘hey, this is mine and you’re not taking it’ and that’s what we hope happens in spring training.”
Not mentioned in the conversation was former number one overall pick Mickey Moniak, who reached the big leagues last year due to a lack of depth and injuries on the major league roster. Moniak, who hadn’t played above Double-A prior to last year, will likely be in whatever form the minor leagues takes in 2021.
Hall of Fame cases for Philadelphia Phillies legends Jimmy Rollins & Ryan Howard. dark. Next
The Philadelphia Phillies remain active in free agency.
The Phillies do remain active on the free agent market for both big league and minor league deals. They signed reliever Brandon Kintzler and outfielder Matt Joyce to minor league deals with invites to spring training, and both have a high chance of making the team this year.
Other options on the free agent market include Marwin Gonzalez, Yangervis Solarte, Brad “Bamboo” Miller, and Jay Bruce.