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Phillies: Reality vs. 1 trade rumbling

By Tal Venada

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Jacoby Ellsbury #22 of the New York Yankees bats during the Spring Training game against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 23, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Yankees defeated the Tigers 3-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 23: Jacoby Ellsbury #22 of the New York Yankees bats during the Spring Training game against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 23, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. The Yankees defeated the Tigers 3-1. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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As a .300 hitter, Segura could easily bat third by April. Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images. /

Completed deal:

Along with Santana, J.P. Crawford was in the deal with the Seattle Mariners for shortstop Segura, portsider James Pazos and reliever Juan Nicasio (salary dump). And although Crawford had been the number-two prospect overall in 2016 by MLB.com, he struggled in 2017’s first half with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

At Lehigh Valley, he rebounded with a .287 average and nine home runs in the second half after nearly dropping out of the top-100 prospects. Unfortunately, he’s only had 187 at-bats in the majors for a .214 mark. He had been a September call-up in ’17 and missed three months in ’18.  However, he’ll be a regular in 2019.

Regarding Segura, the new Phillies shortstop is a .300 hitter with some pop and is under contract through 2022 for $58 million with a team option for 2023. But if Klentak acquires a major power threat to bat second or fourth with Hoskins, Segura will slot between them in the three hole.

Hitting stats:

  • Segura, 28.5:
  • 2016: 153 Gms., 694 PA, .319, 20 HR, 64 RBI and a .368 OBP.
  • 2017: 125 Gms., 566 PA, .300, 11 HR, 45 RBI and a .349 OBP.
  • 2018: 144 Gms., 632 PA, .304, 10 HR, 63 RBI and a .341 OBP.

Pazos is an excellent lefty selection if a threat is up in a big situation: a Freddie Freeman, a Juan Soto or a Robinson Cano. Like Crawford, he is at or near the major league minimum of approximately $0.55 million per year. Ergo, he is a valuable and needed bullpen pickup, Double D.

Pitching stats:

  • Pazos, 27.5:
  • 2017: 59 Gms., 53 2/3 Inn., a 3.86 ERA and 10 Holds out of 13.
  • 2018: 60 Gms., 50 Inn., a 2.88 ERA and 19 Holds out of 21.

Adding Nicasio’s $9 million, the Phils will have an increase of $31.5 million or $18.2 million more than the writer’s idea, and they received a .300 hitter plus a left arm: two pieces they needed rather than two they didn’t. And though Klentak has made a nice swap, only one trade question remains. Will fans remember?

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