Philadelphia Phillies: Possible Freddy Galvis Trade Destinations

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If the Philadelphia Phillies trade Freddy Galvis, where could he go?

Freddy Galvis may never suit up for the Philadelphia Phillies again. The longest tenured member of the 2017 team will enter 2018 with one year left before free agency. Knowing the future at shortstop belongs to J.P. Crawford or possibly even someone else, this winter is the time when Galvis will be heavily shopped.

Not many realize how vital Galvis was for the Phillies in 2017. The 27-year-old played in all 162 games for the Phillies. This perfect attention is sure to gather some extra attention from around the league. To that end, Galvis has missed only 12 games in the past three seasons. This “iron man” status will surely go a long way in the Phillies’ attempt to trade him.

The Phillies are at a turning point in the franchise’s history. After dominating the latter part of last decade and staying competent into the early part of this one, Philadelphia has taken a turn for the worst. They’ve regularly finished at or near the bottom of the standings for a few years now. Finally, the team is coming together.

Before they can start winning, all the veterans will need to clear out. Galvis is not going to be on the roster the next time the Phillies make the postseason. That’s something you can bet on. Galvis may, though, help out a playoff team as soon as next year. Those are the types of teams who will look to add him in a trade this offseason.

Among them are these three franchises I see having a spot available for Galvis.

Los Angeles Angels

Before you bring up Andrelton Simmons, let’s make it perfectly clear that Galvis may not play shortstop next season. Because of the limited teams searching for someone at that position, it’s important to acknowledge new opportunities for Galvis at other infield spots.

The Angels will need a second baseman next season. They will also need a third baseman. Both Brandon Phillips and Yunel Escobar are free agents thus opening up two spots for Galvis to potentially play.

I don’t see Galvis playing 162 games for the Angels at any one spot. He’d likely go into a utility role while keeping everyone fresh. Considering their need for a left fielder and possible additions to the pitching staff, the Angels may look at Galvis as a cheaper option.

Galvis made only a little over $4 million in 2017 and will see his salary go up somewhere in the $5 million range next season. This is a relatively cheap price to pay for a plus defender capable of manning multiple spots.

Based on the past two seasons, the Angels could expect to get halfway decent power from Galvis with better stolen base numbers. If he hits 15 home runs and steals 15 bases, it’s a good year for Galvis on offense. For the price, it’s a good thing for the Angels.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired a former Phillies shortstop, Jimmy Rollins left a bad taste in their mouth. However, second baseman Chase Utley did turn into a major contributor. Even though Galvis doesn’t carry the same weight or locker room power as Utley, he can still give the Dodgers some really good innings and a nice effort in 2018.

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Obviously, Galvis is not going to start in 2018 at shortstop if he’s on the Dodgers. That’s a role for Corey Seager to keep. Galvis may manage to steal the second base job. The Dodgers have their pick of the litter for that position, but with fewer prospects to deal for the best ones out there, Galvis might be a target they pursue.

Let’s consider the 2017 postseason. Seager’s back injury prevented him from cracking the NLCS roster. So, the Dodgers are making due with backups. If Galvis was around, the panic button wouldn’t have as many fingerprints on it as it does right now.

Galvis is a really nice fit for the Dodgers because of how deep their roster already is. He’s never going to hit much higher than eighth in their lineup. However, he can balance out the lineup and give them a lot more options. The Dodgers’ bench was not a particularly good one this past season. This and a few other factors could mean Galvis is a match.

Toronto Blue Jays

At the start of 2017 the Toronto Blue Jays were one of the last teams expected to need a shortstop in 2018. While they do still employ Troy Tulowitzki, health concerns should force them into adding depth. Galvis is the best choice for this.

The Blue Jays are potentially trading Josh Donaldson this offseason with a plan to move Tulowitzki to third base. If this is the move they make, acquiring Galvis from the Phillies would solve the need at shortstop.

Toronto cannot let Darwin Barney and Ryan Goins play the majority of innings up the middle next year. Though Galvis isn’t much better, he is superior and more experienced as an everyday player.

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If the Blue Jays keep Donaldson, Galvis would give them a better option behind the starters. It’s hard to imagine Tulowitzki and Devon Travis staying healthy for long. Knowing Galvis is right there to fill in as necessary, the Blue Jays can enter the year with far more confidence.

The most likely scenario that lands Galvis on a bus headed toward Canada would come following a trade involving Donaldson. Until then, consider the Blue Jays casual browsers and not needy shoppers willing to overpay in a trade with the Phillies.

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