Money-Year Phillies

When a hit or two can rattle the bat rack, adding two experienced starters to the lineup provides the example new hitting coach Matt Stairs preaches about. Don’t give away at-bats! Ergo, Howie Kendrick is already doing for Maikel Franco and Tommy Joseph what Hellickson did for the rotation. Keep in mind, Kendrick is in the final 12 months of his contract, and a .290 average will show he can still pick a team from a handful of suitors.

"IN OTHER WORDS:     “It’s a pretty sure thing that the player’s bat is what speaks loudest when it’s contract time, but there are moments when the glove has the last word.” – Brooks Robinson"

From management’s perspective, Kendrick, a right-side batter, is easier to replace than left-handed Michael Saunders. And even though the finances are not an issue, Kendrick earns $10 million to Saunder’s $8 million, but Klentak won’t lose Saunders to free agency if the right fielder has a banner campaign. How is that possible? A club option. Yes, $10.5 million for 2018.

According to the Condor himself in a recent TV interview, Saunders claimed fatigue was the reason for his poor second half, and statistics favor his belief. In 2014, he had 286 at-bats and the following year he had only 61 ABs. In other words, he went downhill after 305 at-bats last summer, which means his body was not able to endure 490 ABs. But his stats for the first half were excellent: 305 AB, .298, 16 HR, 42 RBI and a .923 OPS. Basically, he’s more than 23 months removed from returning to action, and he’s reestablished his stamina. Ergo, the Condor!

The Saunders signing contained Klentak’s hidden gem: The club option for the GM gives Dylan Cozens two seasons to be the right fielder due to Triple-A struggles or injury. And if the decision-maker is comfortable with promoting Cozens in July or September, Saunders could be a trade piece or a possible candidate for a QO. In other words, Klentak has protection for 2018’s lineup and increased value for a swap.