Because he's 37 in an increasingly younger man's game. And it's not like 2B is a position of high demand. It's arguably a position of surplus overall, league-wide.He had a pretty nice year last season. Why he's been unemployed?
Um, what?Likely seeing if he can solve RHH issue without trading assets. Overall pretty similar career to Pedroia?
Because he's 37 in an increasingly younger man's game. And it's not like 2B is a position of high demand. It's arguably a position of surplus overall, league-wide.
No connection, eh?Phillips is here to play third.
DD’s comments don’t seem to indicate that.Thread title is misleading, as I'd probably give it less then 50/50 he sees a game here at the MLB level.
Decent break glass depth signing though.
Wow.
I understand we're not getting the same Brandon Phillips, but he's a fun player to watch. I hope he ends up contributing.
Huh? Brandon Phillips would be an enormous upgrade over our current situation.Because he's 37 in an increasingly younger man's game. And it's not like 2B is a position of high demand. It's arguably a position of surplus overall, league-wide.
The significantly productive portion of his career is probably over. Contract runs through 2021 and I don't think the Sox would trade him, so he'll be making periodic appearances, in various states of health, at 2nd for at least a few more years.Pedroia’s career isn’t over.
So, if he is an enormous upgrade, why a) didn't they sign him in February and b) was he still available in June? That was the question I was answering. He was a ~.730 OPS bat the last three years but no one gave him a sniff this winter...there's a reason for that. He's older and his defense has cratered. He might be an upgrade over Nunez at the plate (assuming the time off hasn't degraded his bat). I'm not convinced he's an upgrade defensively and I'm also not convinced he's good enough to take much if any playing time from Holt, who should be the strong side of a 2B platoon at worst (maybe even if Pedroia returns).Huh? Brandon Phillips would be an enormous upgrade over our current situation.
https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=2b&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2018&month=0&season1=2018&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=17,d
Brandon Phillips last year hit around the level of a top 10-11 2B (and played 940+ innings at 2B too). He's basically been the same hitter for the past five or so years, so unless someone can show something from his hit profile, I'm not too concerned about his bat.
Probably because there was still a reasonable expectation/hope that Pedroia would return by midseason, so it wasn’t appealing to Phillips nor politically preferable for the Sox. Plus at the time, they probably knew signing Nunez was their first choice if his medical checked out.So, if he is an enormous upgrade, why a) didn't they sign him in February...
Because Pedroia's rehab timeline and potential production wasn't known in February and Nunez hit .321 last year but is struggling mightily, which they didn't know would happen in February?So, if he is an enormous upgrade, why a) didn't they sign him in February and b) was he still available in June?
Redundant and unideal, but he’s an improvement over all those guys and still only 28. His splits aren’t bad and he’d have been a better fill-in at first if Moreland got hurt.Miller is a left-handed bat, which is redundant with Holt, Lin and Marco, if he ever returns. IMHO this is a good signing, if he can get his thing together.
Adam Lind has started to hit in Pawtucket in case of a Moreland injury. His last 7 games and 30 PA he's slashing .375/.467/.750. For the year he is at 48 games, 195 PA, .285/.338/.475. He had an off year in 2016, but from 2013-207 he had an OPS+ of 122.Redundant and unideal, but he’s an improvement over all those guys and still only 28. His splits aren’t bad and he’d have been a better fill-in at first if Moreland got hurt.
Anyway, agree this is a good signing. Hope it works. Not a lot else out there, and it’d be nice to appropriate those deadline resources to the bullpen.
Because he doesn't have much experience at 3b and they aren't worried about his play at 2b? There is nothing in Pawtucket to prevent anyone from playing anywhere. Everyone is replaceable. They have 31 year old De Jesus Jr playing 2b and 28 year old Jantzen Witte playing 3b.So the early opinion is that Phillips doesn't have enough left in the tank to contribute this season? That may be true.....but, last season he hit .285/.319/.416/.735....nothing great but a still a clear upgrade to Nunez' numbers this season 254/.287/.362/.649. Factor in that Phillips is a 4X gold glove defender seems like he would be an overall plus because of the defense even if he was only able to duplicate Nunez' current offensive numbers.
Is anyone else curious why he would be playing 3B at AAA? He has been overwhelmingly a 2Bman throughout his career with only 25 games played at 3B. I am not familiar enough with the Pawtucket roster, is there just more playing time there without taking away from another prospect....or could they be contemplating a bigger deal with Devers??
He hasn't been a Gold Glove defender in a long while and his defensive numbers across the board (DRS, TZ, UZR) over the last couple years aren't exactly trending in the right direction. I don't think he should be counted on to be much of a defensive upgrade at this point in his career.So the early opinion is that Phillips doesn't have enough left in the tank to contribute this season? That may be true.....but, last season he hit .285/.319/.416/.735....nothing great but a still a clear upgrade to Nunez' numbers this season 254/.287/.362/.649. Factor in that Phillips is a 4X gold glove defender seems like he would be an overall plus because of the defense even if he was only able to duplicate Nunez' current offensive numbers.
Is anyone else curious why he would be playing 3B at AAA? He has been overwhelmingly a 2Bman throughout his career with only 25 games played at 3B. I am not familiar enough with the Pawtucket roster, is there just more playing time there without taking away from another prospect....or could they be contemplating a bigger deal with Devers??
Brad Miller's got a similar offensive profile to Mark Bellhorn, maybe, but not Brandon Phillips.Adam Lind has started to hit in Pawtucket in case of a Moreland injury. His last 7 games and 30 PA he's slashing .375/.467/.750. For the year he is at 48 games, 195 PA, .285/.338/.475. He had an off year in 2016, but from 2013-207 he had an OPS+ of 122.
You'd also have to think if Miller was competent at 2b, SS or 3b he'd never been DFA'd since he's been a pretty good bat but I'm not too familiar with the situation. Offensively speaking, he's similar to Brandon Phillips.
Fair enough, decline noted...... Last GG was 2013 with nominations in 2014 & 2015. .....best I can tell Nunez has never been nominated and has also declined range from his bad kneeHe hasn't been a Gold Glove defender in a long while and his defensive numbers across the board (DRS, TZ, UZR) over the last couple years aren't exactly trending in the right direction. I don't think he should be counted on to be much of a defensive upgrade at this point in his career.
He's a semi-warm body with some up side. Expectations should be extremely low and anything he may contribute would be a bonus.
Bingo. Nunez appeared to be a better option than Phillips. He just didn’t work out.Because Pedroia's rehab timeline and potential production wasn't known in February and Nunez hit .321 last year but is struggling mightily, which they didn't know would happen in February?
And as to why he's still available, as a FA he's likely not going to go play in Baltimore--he was waiting for a contender to call.