Cesar Hernandez
The Marlins aren’t the only team in the NL East that the Angels could try to acquire a second baseman from. Another team in on the mix is the Philadelphia Phillies and their second baseman Cesar Hernandez.
While the Phillies continue to improve through a rebuilding process, they haven’t developed enough to compete in the NL East yet. The team could move Hernandez before the 2018 season. According to Los Angeles Times reporter Pedro Moura, the Los Angeles Angels have had sights on Hernandez.
Hernandez is arbitration eligible for the 2018 season and won’t hit free agency until 2021. He could supply the Angels with a top of the order bat for the next few seasons.
The 27-year-old second baseman continues to get better as he spends more time in MLB. In five seasons, Hernandez owns a .284/.357/.379 slash line. Like Gordon, Hernandez isn’t a power hitter. Another contact oriented player that would fit well in Angel Stadium
In 2017, Hernandez played in 128 games. He missed time due to an injury to his oblique. Hernandez hit .294/.373/.421 last season. He put up 150 hits, 85 runs scored, 26 doubles, 34 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. His 2017 stat totals didn’t vary much from 2016, despite playing in 27 fewer games.
Fangraphs.com Steamer projects Hernandez 2018 season to include a slash line of .274/.355/.380 with 25 doubles, 78 runs scored and 52 RBI.