It sounds like Kevin Kiermaier might not be an option for the Phillies

Dave Dombrowski told the media on Sunday that the team is open to a platoon situation in either left or center field. The Phillies are high on Matt Vierling and he could occupy close to an everyday role.

“We do like Matt Vierling as being part of our group of players for us,” Dombrowski told Phillies beat writers in Clearwater. “With [Harper] in right and then you got Vierling, then you might not look per se for two full-time guys. Somebody could be a platoon person too.”

Dombrowski added that he’s not 100% ready to say Vierling is an everyday center fielder, but they like him enough to play him there.

One option the Phillies, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, inquired into prior to the lockout is Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier. Kiermaier, 31, has been one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball in recent years. Acquiring him would make sense, especially if the Phillies are looking to add a big bat with a subpar glove in a corner outfield spot. Defense is one of many weaknesses on the current Phillies team and Kiermaier would certainly alleviate that concern.

Before arriving to the Rays facility on Sunday, Kiermaier was asked for his reaction to the trade rumors. He revealed that Rays general manager Erik Neander told him to plan on remaining with the team in Port Charlotte for the duration of spring training.

“I didn’t know what to do. Erik’s like, ‘You can find a spot, you’ll be here.’ So I’m happy,” Kiermaier told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. ‘And I know that these things might still come about throughout the season. Who knows. But I love it here.”

Kiermaier, who is owed $12.1 million in the final year of his contract, could become a trade option later in the season. With very few options on both the trade and free agent market, the Phillies seem to be pivoting to the plan they had last year: bringing back Odúbel Herrera and holding a competition in center field with internal options.

Ultimately, it is possible the Phillies are back to where they were last spring: An open competition for CF with Vierling, Herrera, Haseley, Moniak and Kingery among the candidates. If there is a significant upgrade in LF, maybe it works. Maybe not.

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) March 13, 2022

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