Philadelphia Phillies interest in Adrian Beltre makes sense
By David Hill
The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to upgrade at third base as they look to remain in playoff contention. Their interest in Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre makes sense.
Right now, the Philadelphia Phillies find themselves in an interesting quandary. Although they expected to improve this season, especially after signing Jake Arrieta and Carlos Santana, they were still not quite expected to be contenders. And yet, as we approach the end of June, the Phillies find themselves at 39-33, tied with the Washington Nationals for second place in the NL East and the second Wild Card spot.
However, even though the Phillies are presently in the midst of the playoff chase, it would make sense for them to stick to their plan for the rebuild. As tempting as it may be to chase after the bigger names on the trade block, the Phillies are taking a more long term view towards building for success.
This long term view makes their reported interest in Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre all the more interesting. Despite being 39 years old, Beltre, when healthy, has still been productive on the diamond. This season, in his 182 plate appearances, the future Hall of Famer has produced a .302/.357/.428 batting line, hitting nine doubles and three homers. Defensively, Beltre has not been at his previous Gold Glove level, but he is still showing above average range at the hot corner.
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Beltre would also be an upgrade over Maikel Franco. Once one of the top prospects in the game, Franco has been a disappointment after initially showing promise in the majors. Franco has produced a .240/.287/.409 batting line, hitting nine homers in his 225 plate appearances, which is an improvement over last year. Moreover, he has been a liability with the glove, with below average range at third during his career.
Obviously, at 39 years old and in the final year of his contract, Beltre would not be a long term answer in Philadelphia. However, he would be another veteran bat, one that has gone through the rigors of the postseason before. He would be a calming influence on the young club, a leader in the locker room and a mentor on the field, while providing an upgrade in the lineup.
Such a move could have long term ramifications for Philadelphia as well. It is conceivable that Franco would be moved, giving him a fresh start someplace else. Meanwhile, in 2019, a consistent spot in the lineup could be found for Scott Kingery, who had been serving as a utility infielder prior to J.P. Crawford being placed on the DL. Kingery has performed relatively well defensively at third, and could end up being the answer that Franco has not been.
Next: Phillies arms waiting in the wings
The Philadelphia Phillies are still looking for an answer at third. Adrian Beltre could be a short term solution that would not cost much in terms of prospect capital, while leading to a long term answer.