Mike Olt was supposed to be the third baseman of the future. Twice.
Monday evening, the once highly-regarded Texas Rangers prospect was designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs, off of the 40-man roster, to make room for the newly-acquired Austin Jackson.
While the common proverb says that 'the third time is the charm', where that opportunity will come for Olt is not clear.
As the Philadelphia Phillies continue their rebuilding process, restructuring their roster with assets with the goal of assembling their next "core group" of players, perhaps they should consider adding Olt in the few remaining weeks of the season.
After batting 0.312 with 44 extra-base hits over 92 career games with the NCAA Division I Connecticut Huskies, Olt was drafted 49th overall in the 2010 amateur draft by the Rangers in the 2010 amateur draft.
In Olt's first professional season at 21 years of age, playing with the Rangers' low-A affiliate Spokane Indians, he batted .293/.390/.464 with 43 runs-batted-in spanning 69 games.
It would take the New Haven, Connecticut-native just 168 more games and 727 plate appearances in the minor leagues before he would ultimately earn his way to the big leagues on August 2, 2012 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Once ranked as a top-50 prospect in baseball by Baseball America, MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus, Olt did not exactly live up to potential as a Ranger, picking up just five hits and five walks over 40 plate appearances.
The following season, Olt was sent back down to the minor leagues. After batting just .213/.317/.422 in 65 games with the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, they ultimately parted ways.
On July 22, 2013, Olt was included in the trade with the Chicago Cubs that sent right hander Matt Garza to the Lone Star state.
Playing in 95 games as a Cub from 2014-2015, Olt showed signs of his power which gave him recognition in the first place. He hit eight doubles and 13 home runs, and delivered with 34 runs-batted-in.
On April 17, Olt was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 15 with a hairline fracture in his right wrist.
Highly-regarded prospect Kris Bryant was soon thereafter called up as his replacement, and with Anthony Rizzo at first, there simply was not room for Olt to regularly play on the big-league roster.
A similar situation occurred in Texas as well. Adrian Beltre was manning the hot corner, while Mitch Moreland, Mike Napoli and Michael Young shared duties across the diamond at first.
If Olt were added by the Phillies, who exactly stands in his way?
Rookie third baseman Maikel Franco put up impressive numbers this season before suffering a non-displaced fracture on his left wrist on August 11 in Arizona. The Dominican Republic-native hit .277/.340/.490 with 22 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs and 48 runs-batted-in over 77 games.
The situation at first base may seem crowded now, with Ryan Howard and Darin Ruf in a platoon situation, but the organization's first baseman of the future is not quite as defined as Franco being at third.
Howard is owed $25 million next season, and has a $10 million buyout for 2017.
Ruf is signed through 2015, but his return for a fifth year donning red pinstripes is not definite. Over 204 plate appearances this season, Ruf has put up just six home runs despite being relied upon as a bonafide power hitter.
The Phillies could very well cut ties after this season with both players, leaving the door wide open for Olt and others down in Clearwater to try to make the club next Spring Training.
Olt was tied to the Phillies in rumors before, as he was mentioned to be a possible return in a Cole Hamels trade to the Rangers in 2012.
Hamels eventually went there, but only three years later.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
