December 2nd is the deadline for teams to make arbitration offers to their players. It is also the time when teams can decide to walk away from players at that status. Hitting the deadline, the Phillies have some players of note that are headed towars such decisions: outfielder John Mayberry, Jr., starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick, reliever Antonio Bastardo, and utility player Kevin Frandsen.
Here's a look at their possible fates/futures with the club:
Kyle Kendrick: Stay
Kyle Kendrick has been up and down during his time with the Phillies. After a strong start last season, Kendrick gained the support of many fans. But, down the stretch as he battled some injury and hit the disabled list for the first time in his career, Kendrick slowed down some. But, as a fifth starter, Kendrick can win 10 games and pitch enough innings to stabilize a rotation and a bullpen. Where Kendrick gets into trouble is when the Phillies count on him for more than what he is: a fifth starter.
Kendrick should be tendered a contract and head into Spring Training as either the fifth starter or the sixth starter. Being the sixth starter wouldn't be so bad. Kendrick has had success in the bullpen and can jump into the starting rotation at will. Kendrick's price has scared some, but in a market where the very comparable Jason Vargas gets four years at $8 million per year, Kendrick should be worth the money. MLBTradeRumors' Matt Swartz suggests Kendrick will get $6.6 million in arbitration, though others have suggested he will get $8 million. Kendrick is worth having around.
John Mayberry, Jr.: Go
Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. raised some eyebrows when he made the statement that "We haven't made any final decisions. But I'd view him as a tender." Amaro was just as noncommital as he was commital about Mayberry's status. Amaro would never announce plans to non-tender Mayberry; at the very least he could try to get something for Mayberry before he simply let him go. However, I tend to think that he will be one or the other will occur before tomorrow's deadline.
Simply put, Mayberry does not fit on this Phillies roster. As I wrote before, the Phillies' bench lacks an impact left-handed bat. Having Mayberry clogging up the roster from the right side does not serve the Phillies needs. A player such as Nate McLouth, most recently with the Baltimore Orioles might give the Phillies more of what they need in terms of speed and an impact bench bat from the left side. Darin Ruf, though a weaker defender than Mayberry, can fill the role of impact bench bat from the right side and appear primarily as a pinch hitter and fill-in for the oft-injured Domonic Brown and Ryan Howard's days off at first base.
Antonio Bastardo: Stay
A few people here or there have suggested that the Phillies are angered by Bastardo's suspension last season for having taken performance-enhancing drugs from the Biogenesis Clinic in Miami. But the realistic response is that the Phillies have a player, who, despite his stupidity in attempting to cheat, remains an asset for a bullpen. Luckily for the Phillies, Jake Diekman has emerged as a solid reliever from the left side. A Bastardo/Diekman tandem in the late innings could help stabilize a bullpen that has been rocky at times the last few seasons.
If the Phillies are still angry at Bastardo and wish to pick up another reliever instead, Bastardo should have some trade value. But in an offseason where the Phillies are hoping to stabilize their bullpen, it's likely Bastardo will stay. His salary through the arbitration might not be so large since he is an admitted performance-enhancing drug user. So, Bastardo should be tendered a contract by tomorrow's deadline.
Kevin Frandsen: Go
This one may upset some people. Kevin Frandsen has become a pretty popular player the last two season, mostly among the female population. But, as a backup infielder, the Phillies have some options and they will not cost the club what Frandsen would. But the Phillies are short on funds to fill some other key positions, and the $1.5 million that Frandsen could cost the team can be spent elsewhere while Freddy Galvis and Cesar Hernandez fill the void.
Frandsen had a solid 2012 but 2013 was not as productive. Frandsen hit .234 with five home runs and 26 RBI while getting 252 at bats for the club. That is not enough to make a commitment to Frandsen of any extent. I would think that Frandsen would catch on with another team for 2014, but with switch-hitting Galvis and Hernandez around, the Phillies really do not have a need on their bench for someone like Frandsen.
Ben Revere: Stay
This one's easy. Ben Revere will be offered a contract for 2014. Even if the Phillies made another move for an outfielder, Revere is a tradeable commodity, so he should remain under Phillies control no matter what.
