Philadelphia Phillies: Time to Acquire a Bat?

Prospect and trade candidates (left-handed hitters):

• Cozens, 22, AA: 586 PA, .276 Avg., 40 HR, 125 RBI and a .941 OPS.
• Jay Bruce, 29.5, NYM: 589 PA, .250 Avg., 33 HR, 99 RBI and a .815 OPS  with a $13 million club option for 2017. The Mets need catching.
• Carlos Gonzalez, 31, COL: 632 PA, .298 Avg., 25 HR, 100 RBI and an .855 OPS with a $20 million contract for 2017 (final season).
• Charlie Blackmon, 30, COL: 641 PA, .324 Avg., 29 HR, 82 RBI and a .933 OPS with an estimated $9.0 million contract for 2017 (second year of arbitration). The Rockies need catching.
• Parra, 29.5, COL: 381 PA, .253 Avg., 7 HR, 39 RBI and a .671 OPS with an $8 million contract for 2017 ($10 million for 2018) and ankle problems in ’16. He hit .291 with 14 homers in 2015.

While the exec reviews the available players through a deal or a signing, he expects to spend $10 million to $15 million per 162 for up to three campaigns, but he can trade that asset at any point. And his reasoning is to have a winning season (82 victories) and to be consistently within shouting distance of the Wild Card race with an above-.500 record. But as the numbers seem to run together with the names of free agents and two available outfielders on the Colorado Rockies (Gonzalez and Gerardo Parra), does one player catch his bargain-hunting eye? Jay Bruce.

While the right fielder isn’t strong defensively, he hit .265 with 29 homers and 80 RBIs through July’s end. And Bruce, 30 on April 3, might be on the trading block after a dismal two months with the New York Mets if they exercise his team option for $13 million. Keep in mind, Double D, reports indicated he didn’t want to play in New York and they need a catcher. So, the left-handed hitter will be working in ’17 toward a three-summer contract or more and be an excellent candidate for one campaign. Pick up the full $13 million. Give up less talent.

Although Bruce will be among the 2018 free agents like Carlos Gonzalez, he could be a stopgap for Cozens: a left-swinging right fielder who hit 40 home runs with 125 RBIs for the Reading Fightin Phils. Cozens, 22, will be with the IronPigs next year and could replace Bruce at the end of July if Klentak swaps the veteran. Ergo, why would you pay top dollar to sign a free agent before you’re ready to contend? The red pinstripes can easily be responsible for $13 million in ’17, the young squad can have their growing pains, and they’ll have a replacement one level away, which means they can win more than 82 games. How about 85 victories?