By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
So, the Philadelphia Phillies traded Carlos Santana so Rhys Hoskins can return to his more natural position at first base. The club recently acquired All-Star Jean Segura to play shortstop, and are in the running to sign superstar Manny Machado to play what they hope to be third base.
What about second base?
Currently, either the arbitration-eligible Cesar Hernandez or Scott Kingery are in the running for the starting job at the position, barring an external acquisition.
The Phillies had the chance to non-tender Hernandez and move on from him ahead of the Nov. 30 deadline, but they did not. They elected to enter the arbitration process with the 28-year-old Venezuelan native, who slashed just .253/.356/.362 last season with 15 doubles, along with a career-highs of 15 home runs, 60 RBI and 161 games played.
Hernandez, along with Maikel Franco, have been long speculated to be dealt at some point in the offseason, due to the Phillies' surplus in non-first basemen infielders. Adding Machado would crowd the dept chart even further. And while J.P. Crawford (and Santana) were dealt to Seattle for Segura, there still needs room to be made for Kingery, who the club signed to an unconventional, six-year Major League pact with very early on in his professional career.
NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury said on the At the Yard podcast that he "does not hear there are doors really being knocked down" for Hernandez on the trade block, and that the club may ultimately keep him for the 2019 season.
"The Phillies like [Hernandez]. He does get on base. He's a year away from free agency, and I think at this point they're going to ride him out and then Kingery would take over in 2020," Salisbury said.
Salisbury went on to allude the Phillies use of Kingery in spring training, when the they wanted to use him in a super-utility role to play second base, shortstop, third base and the outfield. The Phillies may be wanting to explore Kingery's versatility again next season, after having to cut short their experiment early due to Crawford's injury.
"He threw out a runner at home plate from left field early in the season. And then they had to start using him at shortstop all the time," Salisbury said. "I think [keeping Hernandez] allows them to use [Kingery] in that super-utility role, but everything would change if suddenly there is a market for Hernandez and he is moved."
While Hernandez may be in the Phillies' short-term plans, Salisbury noted that Kingery will inevitably be in the club's long-term considerations for 2020 and beyond.
"I think [Kingery] spends a bulk of that contract at second base, but this year, right now with Cesar here … superutility.
"They like to have a guy like that."
