Philadelphia Phillies: 3 Andrew McCutchen replacement options in left field
By Tim Boyle
Andrew McCutchen’s time with the Philadelphia Phillies wasn’t what I think many people wanted it to be. His early injury in 2019 helped spin the season in the wrong direction. When finally getting a full year out of him in 2021, we saw a much different player than his prime days with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
McCutchen spent year three with the Phillies batting .222/.334/.444 with 27 home runs and 80 RBI. It was the kind of season you might expect from Jay Bruce, not a lifetime .280/.373/.476 hitter with an MVP on his resume.
Likely, McCutchen’s time in Philadelphia is over. The team will embark on a journey to find a new left fielder for the coming season. While not necessarily a priority to spend big, it’s important to get someone who can at least provide the club with at least some production on a regular basis. Shopping in the bargain bin and higher, these three guys could replace McCutchen.
The Philadelphia Phillies could get a lot of innings in left field and more from Mark Canha.
Mark Canha played all over the field in his days with the Oakland Athletics. Also an experienced center fielder, he spent the majority of his time on defense playing left field for the A’s in 2021. Now a free agent, he’s one of those guys a lot of teams could look at as a bargain or potential platoon option in the outfield.
Canha’s lifetime numbers include a .244/.344/.431 batting line with an average of 22 home runs and 74 RBI per 162 games. Last season, he gave Oakland a .231/.358/.387 performance with 17 home runs and 61 RBI. Somewhat surprising, he managed to successfully swipe 12 bases in 14 attempts. Previous to this past season, Canha had never stolen more than seven.
Is he a big splash that clears anyone’s October schedule? Certainly not. What I like about him is that he can play center field if needed and won’t cost a whole lot. This gives the Phillies a chance to spend big at shortstop and do the same with their pitching staff.
Left field shouldn’t be a spot where you have to go for broke. A guy like Canha, who can hit with decent power and reach base at a superb rate, should be high on their list of considerations.