Last season, Phillies third base prospect Maikel Franco played some games down the stretch at first base for the Reading Phillies. However, Franco kept his third baseman's mitt and played third base in the winter league. Despite there being much value in a right-handed third baseman, the Phillies apparently are moving Franco to first base, which will be his new priority.
CSN Philly's Corey Seidman reports that Franco has been told that he will primarily be playing first base:
Phillies prospect Maikel Franco says he was told he'll be playing primarily first base this year, though he'll still get work at 3B.
— Corey Seidman (@CoreySeidman) January 16, 2014
At the time Franco played some first base last season, it was done with the explanation that Franco would play just some first base to keep him flexible. Phillies Assistant General Manager Benny Looper told the Inquirer's Matt Gelb back then:
"It's just to give him another position he could go to," assistant general manager Benny Looper said. "His bat is coming quick, it looks like. He's probably going to be limited to third or first. He's never played first so we wanted to break him in and see if that's a possibility."
Franco's only real shot at starting for the Phillies next season would be at third base. Why would the team make him play a position where he is blocked for years to come? I can only think of three logical reasons:
The Phillies Hope To Trade Ryan Howard
"They've got: high hopes…" Yes, the Phillies might hope to trade Ryan Howard. If all goes well, maybe Howard hits 30 home runs and drives in 100 runs. Then, maybe he would be tradeable. Let's face it, salaries are escalating at an unprecedented clip. In a world where Shin Soo Choo gets $17 million a year, maybe someone will be willing to pay $15 million a year towards three years of Ryan Howard. But to do so, Howard would have to demonstrate that he is recovering nicely.
The Phillies Almost Expect A Ryan Howard Injury
An achillies injury is serious business. Though last year Howard's torn miniscus injury last July was not directly related to the major achillies injury he suffered as the Phillies were eliminated from the playoffs in 2011, the extra strain on the knee compensating for the achillies may have contributed to it. If Howard is still not 100% confident on that left ankle, he may be susceptible to another injury by overcompensating elsewhere. Then, the team would need a first baseman they can plug in, and Howard will be it.
The Phillies Think A Designated Hitter Is Imminent
With so much to worry about in 2013, Major League Baseball has not really advanced the idea of having a Designated Hitter in both leagues. With last year's new schedule that had interleague games going on all year round, some are advocating a designated hitter in both leagues.
Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin believed at the start of last season that the designated hitter in both leagues is coming:
"It might be five years from now. It might be 10 years from now. But my gut feeling is … that if you ever got everybody in one room and said you've all got to stay in the room until you make a decision one way or the other, eventually they'd come out and say it's time to have the DH in both leagues."
Since then, Melvin lost outfielder/first baseman Corey Hart to the Seattle Mariners because Hart needed to play for a team that had some designated hitter at bats to offer him as he was getting closer to being fully healthy after an injury. Most free agent batters are also finding their way onto American League teams too, as the option of the designated hitter is attractive to players and general managers alike. If the Phillies need a designated hitter, Ryan Howard will likely be the first one the Phillies use. Then, they will need a young player to come in and play first base, because they are maxed out.
It is also possible that the Phillies think that Franco has the ability to simply go back to third base at any time if they need him to. But scouts might disagree with that. If Cody Asche is the real deal at third base, then Franco needs to make other plans. But if Asche finds himself hitting .175 in June, the Phillies are keeping Franco from being a realistic option at third base. And, if they need to potentially trade Franco for someone playing a position they need to fill, they have decreased his trade value by keeping him from honing his skills at third base.
That is why I am not a fan of this move.
