Categories: News

Mickey Moniak gains 20 pounds of muscle to start offseason

Good morning! It’s Friday! Here’s what’s happening:

A FOWL IN CARDINALS’ CLOTHING: The Cardinals signed outfielder Dexter Fowler to a five-year, $82.5 million contract with a no-trade clause. Also, by signing Fowler – who rejected the Cubs’ qualifying offer – the Cards surrender a first-round pick.

Fowler was one of the better 0utfield options for the Phils, if they wanted to go that route. But it doesn’t look as if the Phils will spend big money on any bat (they’re going to wait a year or two for that).

OH MICKEY, YOU’RE SO MUSCULAR: Phils’ first overall pick Mickey Moniak reportedly gained 20 pounds of muscle to start the offseason. He’s now up to 190 pounds. Moniak hit .284/.340/.409 with 16 extra-base hits in 46 games with the Phils’ Gulf Coast League club. The 18-year-old could begin 2017 in single-A Lakewood.

KINSLER THE KEY: This report by Jim Salisbury

notes that a Cesar Hernandez trade could hinge on what happens with Ian Kinsler. If the Tigers move him, they could be interested in Hernandez to fill their second base hole. That may mean J.D. Martinez to the Phils.

Martinez has a year left on his contract, so his value to the Phils is as a short-term upgrade with a chance at being flipped. If true, I’d almost rather the Phils head into 2017 with uncertainty, giving Nick Williams a clearer path to a starting spot. The Phils should try to extract long-term value from Hernandez, if possible.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.