Phillies “Definitely” Seeking Right Field Help

ESPN’s Jayson Stark joined Buster Olney on his podcast yesterday and stated that the Phillies are “definitely” pursuing right field help in the wake of Aaron Altherr‘s injury. Stark stated that the Phillies are seeking a one-year rental that could be acquired just by taking on salary and that Marlon Byrd is not in play.

, including Carlos Beltran, Michael Bourn, Coco Crisp, Sam Fuld, Jon Jay, Angel Pagan, Michael Saunders, and Nick Swisher. The most appealing of those names might be Jon Jay who is just 31, may be prime for a bounce back season, and could re establish some value as a Phillie while the most fun could likely be Carlos Beltran who sits just eight homers shy of 400 and 46 hits away from 2,500.

Thoughts: If the Spring line ups are any indication, the Phillies outfield would likely be comprised Peter Bourjos in left, Odubel Herrera in center, and Tyler Goeddel in right if the season started today with some combination of Cedric Hunter, David Lough, and Darnell Sweeney on the bench. From a rebuilding standpoint, that’s an outfield I’d go to battle with and it would give Herrera a chance to build on 2015, Bourjos a chance to rebound, and Goeddel a chance to show if he has what it takes to hang around the Majors at age 23 while still developing.

Hunter, 28, surprised observers and has hit his way into the outfield conversation this Spring (.296/.355/.519, 1 HR in 31 PA) while Lough, 30, has done the same (.273/.429/.455, 1 HR in 29 PA). Hunter and Lough both hit from the left side giving the Phillies some pinch-hitting options should either or both make the 25-man roster. Sweeney, 25, got out of the gate slow this Spring but has been trying to hit his way back into the conversation (.235/.350/.294, 1 SB in 20 PA). Strikeouts have sunk Sweeney, as he’s whiffed in eight out of 20 PA thus far.