PHILADELPHIA – New Phillies general manager Matt Klentak has made use of the team owning top priority on the waiver wire this offseason, having claimed three right-handers: Dan Otero, A.J. Achter and Michael Mariot from the Oakland A’s, Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals, respectively.
On Wednesday, the Phillies claimed their first position player – 28-year-old outfielder Peter Bourjos from the St. Louis Cardinals.
With the addition of Bourjos, who later avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract, the Phillies currently have four other outfielders listed on the their 40-man roster: Aaron Altherr, Cody Asche, Odubel Herrera and Roman Quinn.
Quinn’s contract was purchased from Double-A Reading on Nov. 20, protecting him from exposure to the Rule 5 draft. He produced a slash of .306/.356/.435 with six doubles, six triples, four home runs, 15 runs batted in and 29 stolen bases spanning 58 games last season with the Fightin Phils. Quinn likely will not be named to the Opening Day roster.
Darin Ruf and Darnell Sweeney also received playing time in the outfield last season, but both will likely play in platoon situations at first and second base, respectively.
A sweeping presence of young outfielders on a rebuilding team yields a need for a veteran mentor. Jeff Francoeur could be the right player to fill that role, and provide some needed power along with it.
Last season, the Phillies ranked 27th throughout all of baseball in runs scored (626), and 28th in home runs (130) and runs batted in (586). Francoeur, 31, hit .258/.286/.433 and accounted for 34 runs (5.4 percent), 13 home runs (10 percent) and 45 runs batted in (7.68 percent) over 119 games and 343 plate appearances.
Francoeur also ranked second in Major League Baseball in pinch-hit runs batted in, 11, hitting .367/.355/.567 in 30 at-bats. The Phillies, who led the league in pinch-hit extra-base hits last season (25), could use a repeat performance from the 11-year veteran in 2016.
On Sept. 23, Francoeur said there is “mutual interest” in him returning next season.
Bourjos can be more utilized for his defensive play in center field, than for his offensive production. Bourjos has averaged a 16.1 Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) per 150 defensive games since his debut in 2010, which ranks third among outfielders who have logged 3,500-plus defensive innings, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
The former Angel-turned-Cardinal wasn’t the first outfielder the Phillies reportedly have pursued this offseason. On Nov. 12, Cristian Moreno of ESPN Deportes reported that the Phillies have had interest in acquiring 25-year-old outfielder Marcell Ozuna from the Miami Marlins.
The Phillies currently have 38 players on their 40-man roster, 15 of which are position players.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
