Brandon Phillips looked like a veteran stopgap and possible trade bait, but could he have a future with the Atlanta Braves beyond this season?
Heading into the 2017 season, there was a variety of questions surrounding the Atlanta Braves organization. One of those was what to do with the recently acquired second baseman Brandon Phillips. I will admit the Braves have had a knack in the past few years for giving players past their prime a second chance at returning their days of old. One of the players that sticks out the most is none other than Matt Kemp. The Braves gave the veteran a chance to shine in Peachtree City, and he revived his career under the bright lights of Turner Field and SunTrust Park.
Which leads me to Brandon Phillips. Phillips being sent to Atlanta was a huge deal, and here’s why. The Braves coming into this season were not expected to do much, and certainly could not have done worse than the season prior. Although the Braves held the title of the best farm system in baseball, the plan was never to truly make noise in 2017. The acquisition of Phillips breathed new life into this young roster, and allowed him to work with the future franchise shortstop in Dansby Swanson.
The Braves toed the line of adversity all season long, and it wasn’t until the first series back from the All-Star break that Braves Country was electrified by the possibility of this team competing for a spot in the postseason. The Braves swept the NL Wild Card-leading Arizona Diamondbacks and returned to .500 for the first time since April.
Sadly, the Braves were then swept by the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs, which knocked Atlanta back down to reality. According to fellow FanSided contributor Jeff Schafer, the Braves have gone 12-23 since, winning only one series against the Miami Marlins. Let’s just let that sink it. The Atlanta Braves, a team that was at .500 after the All-Star break, has lost 23 games since, and on top of that has been swept by the worst team in baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies… twice!
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You’re probably asking yourself, “So what does any of this have to do with Brandon Phillips?” The Braves are clearly committed to this rebuild, and they should be. The future is bright for this organization, but does that future include Phillips? Yes, and I’ll explain why. The future at second base has and always will be Ozzie Albies for the Atlanta Braves. The kid has it all, and since his call-up he has been an incredible addition at the position. His batting as expected is a bit slow, but that will improve with more experience.
The infield is set to consist of Freddie Freeman, Dansby Swanson, Ozzie Albies and… Brandon Phillips? Look, Johan Camargo has been as big of a surprise as it gets, and it’s made Brian Snitker‘s job very difficult when it comes to the projected lineup. But why would the Braves decide to let Phillips leave when just this season the guy has averaged .284 at the plate and has 120 hits, 10 home runs and 45 RBI?
Phillips is in the final years of his career at 36 years old, but why can’t he serve as a mentor and a clubhouse leader for this young, talented team? Just begin to imagine the Braves’ 2018 roster which could consist of young talents like Swanson, Albies, Camargo and even the electric Ronald Acuna. Matt Kemp and Brandon Phillips have seen their golden days come and go, but that certainly doesn’t mean they couldn’t contribute and mentor Camargo and Acuna.
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The curious case of Brandon Phillips is this: Do the Braves sign him for the remainder of his career? I say yes, and why not when a veteran is willing to slide over to third base for the betterment of the team?