Phillies: Trade wild-card player to fill wish list

AAV Dollars:

While Bruce is the left-side bat off the bench and will only cost $1.65 million, the Phillies could shed $12 million AAV toward their pursuit of Cole. Yes, Klentak made the Seattle Mariners deal including 10 months of Bruce for $2.75 million total. But the GM’s detractors will point to some perceived error instead.

To illustrate, stating Klentak could have inked Corbin for $30 million AAV for three seasons ($90 million total) ignores that he signed for six years and $140 million: $23.33 million AAV. Most stars take the additional $50 million. Fuzzy-logic comparison: Player B still on the bench would surely succeed where pinch hitter A failed.

Phillies 2020 competitive-balance threshold of $208 million:

• Estimates began at $186.2 million AAV
• Franco: -$6.7 million by non-tendering him for $179.5 million AAV.
• Hernandez: -$11.8 million by non-tendering him for $167.7 million AAV.
• Bruce: -$12 million AAV via trade for $155.7 million AAV.
• $208 million AAV minus $155.7 million AAV equals $52.3 million AAV.

After moving Herrera:

• Herrera: -$6.1 million via trade for $149.6 million AAV.
• $208 million AAV minus $149.6 million AAV equals $58.4 million AAV.

To add free agents Cole and Didi Gregorius could cost $39 million AAV. And Cole’s commitment could be $220 million for seven summers including a $10 million buyout for an eighth campaign ($27.5 million AAV), while Gregorius’ deal could be $46 million including a $4 million buyout for three seasons ($11.5 million AAV).

With $52.3 million AAV after subtracting Franco, Hernandez and Bruce, the Phils could have $13.3 million AAV after acquiring Cole and Gregorius. But they could have $19.4 million AAV by also deducting Herrera. No, this won’t be a straight line to the playoffs for the faithful, but what will it be for Klentak? A zigzagging route!