Sports Talk Philly: Philadelphia Sports News and Rumors

Rhys Hoskins Launches Solo Home Run in Japan All-Star Series

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The seven-game Japan All-Star Series — an exhibition matchup between All-Stars of Major League Baseball and Nippon Pro Baseball —  is at its half-way point.

And being just over one week away from Thanksgiving, it is a good sight for Philadelphia Phillies fans to see Rhys Hoskins still produce for a baseball club, albeit on the All-Star roster led by Don Mattingly.

Read: Hoskins on Machado, Harper: Always 'Right Time' to Add 'Generational Player'

In the series' fourth game on Tuesday, Hoskins went yard for the first time oversees with an opposite-field solo home run to right, giving the MLB All-Stars a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.

Phillies Manager Gabe Kapler Loses Malibu Home Due to Woolsey Fire

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Gabe Kapler has a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving: his two sons and ex-wife Lisa, his role as Philadelphia Phillies manager, and just life as a whole.

Thanksgiving is a time to invite those you love most to your home, and appreciate the things that mean the most to you in life. Unfortunately, for Kapler, he no longer has a home in his native state of California to go back to and do just that.

According to The Athletic's Matt Gelb, Kapler lost his Malibu home near Zuma Beach over the weekend due to the tragic Woolsey Fire, which has affected approximately 85,000 acres and caused more than 250,000 people to evacuate their homes in Southern California.

Report: Phillies "Shopping the Hell" Out of Carlos Santana

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Last offseason the Phillies were looking for a steady, high on-base bat who could hit from the left side and pair with right-handed Rhys Hoskins.  They found that bat in a creative way, adding first baseman Carlos Santana, and letting Hoskins return to left field, a position he briefly played upon entering the big leagues.  But a full year of Hoskins in left field has shown that it might be prudent to return Hoskins to first base.

That leaves the Phillies needing to come up with a solution.  One last season was to allow Santana to play some third base.  At first it happened in a pinch, but the Phillies used that to allow playing time for some of their outfielders, moving Hoskins to first base.  But Santana is not a long-term solution at third base as much as Hoskins is not a long-term solution in the outfield.

According to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, the Phillies are aggressive in achieving a solution to that problem:

*A rival executive says the Philadelphia Phillies are “shopping the hell” out of first baseman Carlos Santana, with the idea of returning left fielder Rhys Hoskins to first.

I have suggested before that the Seattle Mariners could be a fit.

Santana struggled in the months of April and July, but the rest of the season he was what the Phillies bargained for when they signed him to a three-year, $60 million deal.  There were other suitors for Santana last year who could still be interested.  The Phillies can afford to pay down any amount owed to Santana.

Some reports earlier suggested the Phillies were afraid of  "admitting a mistake" by trading Santana.  But at the end of the day, the Phillies must win, even if it means that the Hoskins move did not work out.  Hoskins graded well enough in left field his first year, but as Rosenthal notes, at negative 24 defensive runs saved, Hoskins had the worst defensive performance in left field since Adam Dunn was negative 26 in 2007.

Trading Santana would also free up space on the diamond for a potential acquisition such as outfielder Bryce Harper or infielder Manny Machado, depending on how the Phillies choose to line things up.

Phillies Hot Stove: Hoskins' 'Strong Personality' Could ‘Rub Off’ on Machado

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Manny Machado messed up in more ways than one this past postseason while with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Not only did he intentionally kick Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jesús Aguilar, he also blatantly said he does not hustle.

If any other impending free agent said and did such things, just a month prior to free agency, Phillies fans 99 times out of 100 would want no parts of him. But, Machado is different. He is that one player that seems to be getting the free pass — albeit with caution.

"When you go out and make a comment like that — that 'I'm not a guy who hustles' — that is not totally disqualifying in a city like Philadelphia, but it gives everybody from ownership on down reason to think about 'is this going to work here or be worth it?'" NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury said Saturday on SportsRadio 94 WIP with Glen Macnow and Ray Didinger.

"Ultimately, I think talent will rule the day and [the Phillies will] stay in on [trying to sign Machado]. If they can get him, I think they'll be very happy."

Read: Hoskins on Machado, Harper: Always 'Right Time' to Add 'Generational Player'

Looking past Machado's antics — and instead focusing on his potential impact — should remain the primary focus, per Salisbury. "I still think he's young. I do think people can see the light. I'm not sure he will, but [the Phillies] are in it, and they're going to see what happens."

Proper clubhouse etiquette can be taught, not All-Star-caliber talent — which Machado has. Current Phillies like Rhys Hoskins — who Salisbury said has a "stronger personality" than Machado — could "rub off" on him, if signed.

Phillies Hot Stove: Boras, Harper Could Put On ‘Big Show’ at Winter Meetings

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia 76ers went "star-hunting" and came away with Jimmy Butler. The Philadelphia Eagles landed wide receiver Golden Tate. Both acquisitions came arguably out of nowhere, and seem to finalize without delay. So, if the Philadelphia Phillies are the "favorite" to sign Bryce Harper, when will they get their chance to shine?

Unlike the NBA and NFL, the MLB and Harper have agent Scott Boras, who tends to take his time before crossing the "Ts" and dotting the "Is."

Read: Salisbury: Harper 'Plays Hard, Hustles' Despite 'Showman's Personality'

Saturday on SportsRadio 94 WIP with Glen Macnow and Ray Didinger, NBC Sports Philadephia's Jim Salisbury noted the time it took Boras' two top clients last offseason to ink a deal, J.D. Martinez with the Boston Red Sox and Jake Arrieta with the Phillies.

Salisbury: Harper 'Plays Hard, Hustles' Despite 'Showman's Personality'

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Remember when free agent superstar outfielder Bryce Harper, then of the Washington Nationals, engaged in a physical altercation in the dugout with then-teammate, former Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon?

Read: Phillies' Interest in Harper 'Lining Up' Like Thome Acquisition

Less than 24 hours removed from being eliminated in the 2015 postseason, Papelbon clearly was frustrated with Harper, who failed to hustle down the first-base line in the eighth inning of what would eventually be a 12-5 loss to the Phillies.

NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury said Saturday on SportsRadio 94 WIP that while there have been issues with Harper and his "showman's personality" — with the Papelbon dugout incident as an example — the six-time All-Star's talent is hard to ignore.

Phillies Hot Stove: Club's Interest in Harper 'Lining Up' Like Thome Acquisition

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia Phillies' December 2002 signing of Hall of Fame first baseman Jim Thome will forever be remembered as the mark of the new chapter for the organization.

Thome's leadership and slugging presence in the Phillies' early seasons of Citizens Bank Park — and also during the latter years under eventual World Series champion manager Charlie Manuel — only helped the club in numerous, unquantifiable ways.

Bryce Harper coming to the Phillies in 2019 could lead to a similar, new window of success for the two-time World Series champions. And just how Thome was pried away from the Cleveland Indians, Harper could likewise be pried away from the Washington Nationals.

Phillies Hot Stove: 'Boys' Klentak, Mariners GM Discussing James Paxton Trade?

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Philadelphia Phillies Vice President and General Manager Matt Klentak, and Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President and General Manager Jerry Dipoto, have a deep history which could benefit both clubs this offseason.

Dipoto hired Klentak as his assistant general manager with the Los Angeles Angels prior to the 2012 season, and worked together through July until Dipoto resigned. When the Phillies hired Klentak in November 2015, Dipoto called him a "wonderfully nice guy" who is "extremely intelligent, knows "baseball rules inside and out," and is a "ferocious negotiator."

Dipoto may get a first-hand experience from his former pupil, three offseasons later, surrounding a trade of Mariners southpaw ace James Paxton.

Hoskins on Machado, Harper: Always 'Right Time' to Add 'Generational Player'

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By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Philadelphia Phillies 1B/LF Rhys Hoskins may be halfway across the globe at the All-Star Series in Japan, yet he cannot escape the heat of the MLB Offseason Hot Stove.

With the Phillies considered among the favorites to sign both Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, one reporter covering the seven-game exhibition series got the rare opportunity this weekend to ask Hoskins — post-World Series, and amid the offseason — on his thoughts of the potential signings.

For the Phillies, a Potential Opportunity for Redemption?

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By Matt Noskow, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 

While everyone in Philadelphia is locked-in on the free agency market, in regards to the decision of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, other options to add premier talent begin to stand out on other teams.

As NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jim Salisbury recently noted, the Phillies could look to bolster their starting rotation via trade. This makes sense, given the Phillies' underwhelming rotation in 2018 other than Aaron Nola, as well as the available talent out on other teams. But, what if there was a cant-miss opportunity to acquire a lineup-changing bat, similar to one the Phillies missed out on last offseason?