Philadelphia Phillies GM avoids Waterloo with Jean Segura

In swinging a trade for Jean Segura, Philadelphia Phillies GM Matt Klentak avoided his own personal Waterloo.

The rumors had been swirling for a couple of days about the Philadelphia Phillies acquiring Jean Segura. “Connections” Rosenthal was credited with breaking the news about serious negotiations as is often the case. Former Phillies “can’t miss” prospect J. P. Crawford was said to be in the deal, and MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reported infielder Carlos Santana would also be involved, as well as, probably, other players. USA Today picked up the story and ran with it as early as Sunday Night Football o’clock.

This was enough to make Phillies fans positively giddy. The deal also seemed to signal the Seattle Mariners were very, very serious about a total rebuild. Early Dec. 3 only physicals remained as a hurdle to the team also shipping Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the New York Mets.

In other words, Seattle, New York and Philadelphia had five shoes dropping, but not quite hitting the floor at the same time. Before the day was over, however, they all hit the floor. The new Mets reportedly passed their physicals, and late in the day the Phillies announced the acquisition of Segura, Juan Nicasio, and James Pazos for Crawford and Santana.

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Here’s the thing about the Jean Segura deal: This was a transaction that had to be completed by Phillies GM Matt Klentak. If he hadn’t, it might well have doomed his tenure in Philadelphia well before the 2019 season started whether or not he will be able to sign a bigger star. Too many had anointed the deal nearly done, and both of the remaining offensive stars on the free agent market — you know their names — are problematic for reasons that can be taken up another day. But believe me, not everybody in Philadelphia will be happy with either of them, particularly if one is signed to an excessive deal.

Now that the Segura deal is done, however, the Phillies will be getting a bona fide star to play shortstop; they simultaneously jettison a problematic player, Crawford, who seems too delicate, physically, to stay on the field. And moving Santana in the deal means the team can return Rhys Hoskins to first base. (However, the Mariners will be getting a player with some promise as well as a seasoned, respected veteran.)

A team of arguably misfit parts – the Phillies – is starting to reassemble itself into a coherent, nearly completed puzzle.

Segura has hit .308 over the last three seasons, and sprays the ball around the field as a mature MLB player should be able to do. He is also a solid defensive player. Moreover, he has a fairly team-friendly contract good until he is only 32.

Additionally, Klentak has apparently somehow managed to avoid giving up other players who might have been needed to make this deal happen. Yesterday many Philly fans would have said readily, “Send a second baseman, send an outfielder, send a promising young pitcher. Send all three with Crawford and Santana. Send Segura a really big fruit basket and Carson Wentz’ whole game-used uniform and helmet!”

If this deal hadn’t completed, Philadelphia Phillies GM Matt Klentak would have been explaining why not until August at least. He would have also seriously annoyed a certain writer immensely since the article you’re reading involves waaay too many hyperlinks.