Ruben Amaro has had no problems hiding the Phillies direction. Get younger, more athletic and focus on player development. The rebuild has more or less begun, with Jimmy Rollins and Marlon Byrd gone in exchange for three young pitching prospects with high ceilings. That being said, the Phils still have plenty of issues to take care of, more specifically, Ryan Howard.
The Howard case is a simple, yet very complicated one. He is owed way too much money and hasn't been productive enough to warrant a spot on the team anymore with Darin Ruf and Maikel Franco waiting in the wings. Last month, Ruben Amaro said he talked to Ryan Howard and explained to him that he believes the Phillies would be better off if he were not on the team in 2015. Well, easier said then done. With Howard owed $60 million, the Phils have had no takers for the former MVP and may have to enter spring training with him on the team. Whether that ends up being the case or not, Amaro stood by his earlier comments on Ryan and isn't really concerned about any awkwardness that may arise.
"Regret being too honest?" Amaro said. "I guess sometimes. But I think that if Ryan's with us, and he's likely to be with us in spring training, I think Ryan's got to prove to us that he's ready to play every day at first base for us. I mean I'm kind of looking forward to him being ready and healthy and contributing. Right now, there's nobody really that can unseat him.
"There's always awkwardness when we're making transitions, I think," Amaro said. "But I think Ryan knows what I think about him as a person and as a player. I think that if Ryan can get back to where he was or close to back to where he was, I think he can still be a productive player. A lot of it will depend on how healthy he is and how well prepared he is." [Philly.com Sports]
Amaro mentions that he doesn't believe there is anyone currently that could unseat the Big Piece, so Franco and Ruf likely need to come out on fire in the spring if they want to overtake him at first base. Howard hit .223 with 23 homers and 93 RBI's in his first full season since suffering his Achillies injury in 2011.
IronPigs Likely to Be Franco's Home to Start the Season
Although Maikel Franco will be given plenty of chances to impress in spring training, the 22-year-old Phillies prospect will likely be in Triple-A to start the season. As of Wednesday, the Phillies’ third base prospect was hitting .348 with a .941 OPS in the Dominican League. He has gone deep twice, hit three doubles and a triple for Gigantes del Cibao. He has the most total bases among those in the playoffs. While Ryan Howard may be blocking him from playing time at first, Franco will also have competition with Cody Asche at his natural position, third base.
A natural third baseman, Franco will see time at both corner infield spots during spring training. The Phillies have internally discussed exposing Asche to the outfield in the spring, but that decision hasn't been finalized, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.
Franco will "be bounced around a little bit, and we’ll see if he’s ready to help us at the big-league level,” Amaro said Friday before the annual Philadelphia Sports Writers Association banquet in Cherry Hill, N.J. “He may not be. I think in a perfect world he starts in triple A and continues to progress there and then we bring him when he’s ready. But we’ll see. Hopefully he creates some competition for Asche and pushes him a little bit.” [Philly.com Sports]
Franco hit .179 in 56 at-bats in a short stay with the Phillies at the end of the season. He is hitting .290 overall in the Dominican League, spanning 52 games. He's shown that he has the talent and the power, but transferring it to success at the top level is what Amaro needs to see to be convinced he's ready.
“This will be an interesting spring training for him,” Amaro said. “He had a great year coming into last year’s spring training, and I think he pressed a little bit. I think it was a new experience for him, to be in big-league camp, trying to hit a lot of home runs and trying to do a lot of things. But it will be interesting to see how he handles this experience. He’s not a lock for our team, but he’ll be competing.”
[Philly.com Sports]
Obviously, another smart reason to start Franco in Lehigh Valley is to extend his team control one more year to 2021.
Domonic Brown to Return to Natural Outfield Spot
After a season that earned him a spot in the All-Star game in 2013, Domonic Brown took a very large step back both offensively and defensively in 2014. With Marlon Byrd gone, Brown's natural spot is open in right field and he is likely to be the Phillies guy there this season. Phillies manager, Ryne Sandberg, commented on Brown's potential and how this year is a big one for the former top prospect.
"I think it's his time to be one of those guys that we're talking about: Who's the new nucleus of the Phillies going to be?," Ryne Sandberg said. "There are jobs to be solidified and jobs to be won. For [Brown] to take the bull by the horns and to be one of those players at this time in his career at his age, I think that's important for him."
[Philly.com Sports]
Brown and the Phillies agreed to a one-year deal, avoiding arbitration. After making $550,000 in 2014, Dom will get a pay raise to $2.5 million. Hopefully, if Brown does stay, his comfort level in right field rolls over to comfort level overall. If he shows that potential we saw in 2013, Brown could earn a spot in the Phillies plans moving forward. Still, plenty needs to be done to prove that.
"I think he's in a good frame of mind. I think it would be a good thing for him because I think he feels more comfortable in right field, so we'll see," Amaro said. "But he's got work to do out there. He still needs to improve on certain areas of the game." [Philly.com Sports]
