The Phillies are discussing a potential Curtis Granderson swap with the Blue Jays, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter links). Rosenthal notes that the Phils are looking to upgrade their bench after demoting struggling outfielder Aaron Altherr to Triple-A last night. Matt Gelb of The Athletic tweets that improving the offensive depth of the roster is the Phillies priority in the eight days leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline.
The 37-year-old Granderson is hitting .230/.337/.417 with nine homers, 15 doubles, a triple and a pair of stolen bases over the course of 274 plate appearances in a part-time role with Toronto this season. He’s only been allowed to face a left-handed pitcher 23 times, hitting just .111/.273/.167 in that small sample. In 251 PAs against right-handers, Granderson is hitting .240/.343/.438 with all nine of his homers and 14 of his 15 doubles.
Granderson is earning $5MM in 2018, with about $1.85MM of that sum still owed to him through season’s end. He’s not a perfect fit for the Phils’ roster, as he’d give the club an almost entirely left-handed-hitting outfield mix, with Rhys Hoskins serving as the main exception. Beyond that, the Phillies have been one of the worst teams in the game against left-handed pitching, making Granderson seem an even tougher fit. Collectively, Philadelphia hitters have posted a meager .229/.320/.356 slash against southpaws. Adding a bat that has been almost entirely shielded from facing lefties to the bench certainly wouldn’t do the team any favors in improving that clear deficiency.
That said, Granderson is an affordable and still reasonably productive veteran who’d deepen the team’s bench and bring postseason experience and a renowned clubhouse presence to a young Phillies roster. The cost of acquisition for the rental of a part-time outfielder would be minimal, as well, and the Phils could still stand to bring in another option to help bolster the bench and provide a boost against left-handed pitching.
The Phillies have also recently been linked to Mets infielder Asdrubal Cabrera, which would align with their goal of deepening the lineup, and Rosenthal echoes previous suggestions that the club could also pursue Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar for a more regular role. Rosenthal also suggests the Marlins utilityman Derek Dietrich could fit the Phillies’ needs as a potential bench piece that could fill in at multiple positions (though Dietrich, like Granderson, wouldn’t be much help against lefties).
I would not be opposed to this at all. He knows the division, he’s a veteran leader, inexpensive and having a decent enough year.
.230 is decent? Not for an outfielder
Yikes. You went straight to BA to say he’s not decent?
Have to hide Granderson against lefties.
107 OPS+ is reasonably “decent”
What does BA have to do with production?
It tells you neither how often he gets on base nor how far around the bases he gets himself.
All it truly does, when listed with OBP/SLG, is give an idea of how often he hits singles (or more importantly, gives an idea of what their BB rate and ISO are)
Obviously it was lazy to only rely on batting average. However, Granderson is having a bad near-replacement level season. The stats are not good. It’s tough to see what the Phillies are exactly interested in besides veteran presents.
108 wRC+, 115 wRC+ against RHP, 152 wRC+ with men on base
He’s having a good season with the bat and would make a great part-time OF/Bench bat for someone.
Now not specifically the Phillies as they need someone who can hit LHP. But he’s a nice land for a team in need of help against RHP
Is there a DH in the NL yet?
To my knowledge, you don’t need the DH rule to use a PHer
And really, Granderson has had a total of 62 balls go into his zone in the OF over 400 innings out there this season. That is 1 BIZ every 6.5 innings played, or less than 2 a game; while he makes routine plays fine
Sure he’s not a great fielder, but the likelihood he’d even see the ball is slim, and it is so unbelievably rare he’d see a difficult play that I can’t believe anyone would truly be on the ledge about it
These days batting average isn’t much of indicator of how good a player is doing. Lots of star caliber players are hitting below .250
.230 with 9 homers is decent? Plus .111 against lefties, whatever you say.
Batting average is a tough way to judge a player. Offensively he is 107 ops+ – basically 7% higher than the league average. So yes – that is decent. And he is hitting a home run nearly every 27 times up. Also decent to hit a hr every 6-7 games played when not starting every day and power is in decline.
Not a bad idea in my opionon. Affordable veteran with postseason and pennant race experience to help lift a young club and mentor his teammates. Shouldn’t cost too much as well considering he hasn’t been extremely productive.
MLB loves to recycle trash.
Well, seeing how your posts seem to unfortunately reappear, I agree.
^^ haha.
I’m not opposed to this, he’s a cheap rental, he’s a veteran to help the younger players and he’s a clear upgrade over Altherr
Viva la Grandy Man!
You are slipping now that you resort to sounding like John Sterling.
Real Yankee fans DONT so you have proven your team identity as teams in the ‘86 World Series, commonly referred to as the Double Losers World Series.
Last thing they need is a LH hitter.
I would love to have grandy here..LIKE 10 years ago! Plz tell me this a joke?
Yea this really moves the needle.
I’d like to upgrade to a Happ/Granderson combo meal, please.
it’s possible but likely jays will want a top 6 team prospect for Happ.
I still think that Hamels would be the best deadline deal for this team to make this year. They could shift Pivetta to the pen for the stretch run and stretch him back out for 2019. People point to Cole’s stats which have been inflated by Globe Life Park. I guarantee you that you place Cole in this atmosphere and you will see a completely different pitcher.
CBP isn’t exactly pitcher friendly.
jleve618 Maybe not but Cole has proven without a doubt that he can pitch successfully in CBP.
Hamels road numbers are good. Stick him in the NL East and he’ll be even better. Sorry to the naysayers; Cole Hamels will perform well in Philly without a DH, tougher parks in the division and the fact that he’d be “coming home”.
I guarantee you not.
He’s a swell fella. Best days are long ago, but a boost to morale and a wise old man to have on the bench. And .230 for him is like .270 for anyone else.
No doubt his last chance to shine.
Better in Philly than on a transitioning Toronto team.
Shout out to the city of Toronto.
Toronto Strong!
After pushing for Machado, Philly is really looking to move the needle here.
so who out there in rumor land is machado like? if you can’t get the big fish it doesn’t mean you go over the next big thing. That’s often how teams overpay.
Grandy for the minimal cost will be a good locker room influence. We are talking just replacing a minors platoon player with a veteran who can platoon.
There’s plenty of upgrades they can grab, and plenty of hitters that can help more than a way-has-been platoon player. This “good locker room influence’ stuff is fluff for people to add when the player has no numbers to show. You know what’s a good locker room influence? Hitting a home run and getting a ton of high fives in the dugout.
really? guys who say locker room presence isn’t anything have obviously never been part of a locker room.
Phssshh, I scored four touchdowns in one game at Polk High. I also use the locker room at my gym all the time. That being said, I’d rather have an all-star 26-year old third baseman than a 37-year old can’t-play-defense-with-a-0.3 WAR center fielder. I don’t care if he plays the trumpet and brings cookies into the locker room every day.
April Fools!!!!
Why? Makes literally zero sense. They need another subpar OF? Stop what you’re doing, because it’s wrong.
Granderson has been actually slightly above average with the bat this year – 107 OPS+. Walks and power
Nick William’s has more HRs, 104 OPS+ and batting 20 points higher. 24yo vs 37yo at the end of his run.
Granderson’s played in 57 post season games and Williams has played in none. He can’t hit LHP, but his DRS for LF is avg to a little below and he’s a good person to have in the clubhouse.
Was your locker next to his in NY?
“JUST SAY NO”
….to Grandy!
Terrible idea. Please no.
No thank you. Next please.
What about Avisail Garcia?
I’d appreciate banter between Phillies/Jays fans on what would be a reasonable return. I’m not specifically tracking either, but went with Zach Warren and Addison Russ.
The price is certainly going to be higher than A ball relief pitchers. If I were the Phillies I’d see if I could deal players who’ll need to be added to the 40, but are unlikely because of depth. McKenzie Mills, Jan Hernandez, Tom Eshelman, Zach Green, and Brandon Leibrandt could all go in Rule 5, so at least you get something for them.
Of course, the Jays might want someone more significant but those players do have potential.
As a Jays fan, I would agree a rule 5 type player is acceptable return… or a low minors high upside guy
I would have to think its a lottery ticket type of return…. either a guy they like in A ball that they see more potential than the Phillies do or a low ceiling guy in AA/AAA.
1 young minor leaguer and maybe Philly just tosses in some journeyman arm mid-late 20’s. If that. Won’t take much to get Granderson.
Print the playoff tickets, Grandyman might be coming to town.
Granderson would be a nice complimentary piece for someone as he’s having a nice season with the bat against Righties
But the Phillies issue is they can’t hit Lefties. That is an issue Grandy shares. Leaves one failing to see the fit with this specific organization
Potentially, what Granderson has is experience and an occasional knack to hit in the clutch.
why can we just have Williams be the every day right fielder…its not too difficult to do phillies just upgrade the bench.
Grandy is going somehwere at the deadline. Gibby in Toronto has been playing him way too much for turf and age. His BA and production is good for a boost after a trade.
no way…he is NOT an answer to who can improve your roster!
Granderson would be an improvement over Tucker as a bench bat for Atlanta. I doubt seriously though if Atlanta would pursue him as such.
How about the Braves trade Austin Riley and Max Fried to the White Sox for Avisail Garcia and Joakim Soria.
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Very nice guy…..yet, the team needs a player who can hit!
They need a defensive catcher who can actually drop and stop a low pitched ball and has more passed balls then hits
.
Need a defensive second baseman and STOP using Kingery at shortstop and third base as he stinks as a fielder!!!. The Phils’ manager may be learning how to manage….but, PLEASE STOP all those shifts by moving your infielders out of position…as they were second worst team in baseball for shifts.)
Lord please no
MLB should issue Granderson a uniform for every team so he’ll be ready for every trade deadline…
Actually, a Granderson/Happ/Maile to the Phillies trade makes some sense. Granderson and Happ for OF and Rotation situation and Maile who is a great defensive catcher and having a fine offensive season. Jays have Jansen in AAA ready to come up and the Phillies need a good defensive catcher. That being said, what would come back for that package?
Maile is not a great defender. Good arm. That’s it. But I’m 100% in-favor of dealing him if that means Danny Jansen comes up and is mentored by Martin.
Maile is a borderline MLB level catcher to me. He can call a game and frame and throw well. His hitting is a bonus. Maile shouldn’t be on a championship team.
Jansen needs a lot of work defensively. He might not even make it in the big leagues as a catcher. He will hit in the big leagues. I like his bat. He’ll have to work hard to have basic defensive MLB level catching skills.
The phils have a deep system and can afford to play for rentals.
I’m not going to lie. I forgot all about him
Outsiders opinion only but I believe Escobar would be a good fit for the Phillies. Not just this year but for the future.
If you want someone that can hit lefties… get castellanos. He’s hitting .400 against them this year and almost .300 lifetime.
I like this idea – if only because Nick Castellanos will make Nick Williams look like a gold glover.
Oh, you were looking for Mike trout… sorry.
sounds like the Phillies should trade with the White Sox. Leury Garcia is a switch hitter that excels against left handed pitchers and can play any outfield position and most infield positions. While he might not be gold glove caliber lol….he can help out in a pinch and usually provide an average bat for the position.
maybe make it a two player deal heading their way with Joakim Soria and Leury Garcia. Phillies need bullpen help (specifically left handed relievers) and Soria fits the bill.
That Ramon Rosso fella looks interesting….maybe he could be part of the deal heading back to Chicago?
im inytigued. tellme more bout rosso. phils gan but never heard of him. if i can get grandy,happy,a defensive catcher,im in on that trade. tho,id be on board for hamels too….if cheap. if gonna cost me,i want texas to throw in a pinch hitter too.