By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies appear to already be gearing up for the 2019 season, given they trail the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves by over seven games with just 17 games to go. Phillies free agency will surely be paid close attention to this offseason, with the club rumored to be linked to superstars Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. If either Harper or Machado are acquired — or both as Managing Partner John Middleton reportedly desires — it would create a logjam among players currently on the Phillies roster.
Cesar Hernandez has long been thought as a likely trading chip following the 2018 season to open a starting role for Scott Kingery at second. Likewise, Maikel Franco could be moved in favor of either J.P. Crawford or Machado. There will be considerable moving chips this offseason, but what has not yet been reported until Thursday is the Phillies potentially parting ways with first baseman Carlos Santana.
Phillies brass reportedly has "at least discussed the idea" of dealing Santana and moving Rhys Hoskins back to first base, in order to improve their outfield defense, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury.
With recording his 97th walk on Tuesday, Santana passed Pete Rose (95) for the most walks among Phillies switch hitters ever in a single season. Since 2011, Santana has the second-most walks in the majors (786) and trails only Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (873), according to MLB.com. While Santana has the fourth-most walks this season, his .229 average ranks the 10th-worst among qualified batters.
Trading Santana, 32, would concurrently move Hoskins, 25, back to his original 2017 rookie position, and open up a corner outfield spot for potential free agency acquisition Harper, the speedy Roman Quinn, or even Adam Haseley, "who could be knocking on the door by the middle of next summer," Salisbury notes.
Santana has committed 10 errors over 1,232 innings and 1,208 chances at first this season, while Hoskins has no errors over 19 2/3 innings and 24 chances at the position. The Sacramento, California, native committed just three errors spanning 203 1/3 innings and 206 chances at first last season.
Santana is owed slightly over $20 million over each of the next two seasons, and has a $17.5 million team option or $500K buyout for 2021. Hoskins, meanwhile, is under team control through 2020, and is arbitration eligible through his age 30 season in 2023. The Phillies likely would have to eat most of Santana's remaining contract for a comparable return.
If Hoskins plays first base for most of the final 17 games in 2018, that very well could be the signal that Santana's days in red pinstripes are in fact numbered.
