Over the last week, trade rumors have connected Adrian Beltre to the Philadelphia Phillies. He’s a perfect fit for more than just his gameplay.
The Philadelphia Phillies looked like it might be their year early in 2018. After new manager Gabe Kapler weathered his first few unpopular decisions for them, the Phillies spent the next month or so as one of the hottest teams in baseball.
But they’ve since cooled off while the division around them stayed warm. The bullpen has struggled, starting pitching has regressed, and the big hits often elude them.
Enter Adrian Beltre. He’s perhaps the most desirable veteran clubhouse presence in MLB. He signed his first professional contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1994, the year before Phillies’ pitcher Victor Arano was born. He knows the ups and downs of a 162-game series better than most of the Phillies’ young core does.
Not to mention he’s having a pretty good season on the field too.
Two needs, one player
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Maikel Franco has been the Phillies’ starting third baseman in 2018. He’s not providing the productivity the Phillies would like. He’s hitting just .240 with a wRC+ of 82.
Beltre, by contrast, is hitting .302 with a wRC+ of 107. He’s an offensive improvement for the Phillies at third base, but he also provides the veteran presence that the Phillies could use. After all, he’s known professional baseball for longer than some of the Phillies have known to be alive.
If the Phillies were serious about going all in on taking the NL East in 2018, Manny Machado would be the preferred replacement.
But the Phillies aren’t focused on just winning in 2018; they’re focused on building a young core of professionals that can be competitive every season. Renting Machado for half a season won’t help that come to fruition, but renting Adrian Beltre might.
Next: NL East: MLB trade deadline primer
Whether the Philadelphia Phillies are slumping or truly regressing is to be seen, but Adrian Beltre might be the guy to show the Phillies’ how to weather the complexities of a 162-game season.