Galvis first of three arbitration-eligible Phillies to agree to deal

By: Matthew Shinkle, Sports Talk Philly writer

It was announced Thursday afternoon that shortstop Freddy Galvis agreed to a one-year deal worth $4.35 million, according to CSNPhilly.com's Jim Salisbury. Galvis made $2 million last season, and is arbitration-eligible again in 2018, after which he will become a free agent. 

During the 2016 season, Galvis hit a career high in HR's (20) and RBI's (67), while also committing only seven errors on a .987 fielding percentage. Highly touted for his glove and defense, Galvis was in the running to win his first career NL Gold Glove at the end of the season, along with the Giants' Brandon Crawford and the Cubs' Addison Russell

Galvis surprised many in Philadelphia and the MLB with his home run and RBI stats at the end of the year. His .241 batting average and .274 on-base percentage from last season does hurt his value, however the Phillies are in a position where they are able to overspend for the short term. The team's payroll devoted to it's 25-man roster was 27th in the MLB last season. 

The Phillies are still relatively unsure what exactly they have in Galvis. His defense has never been in question, however his offense the past two seasons has been two different tales. He flirted with .300 for much of the 2015 season before finishing the year with a .263 batting average and .302 OBP.

After showing much more power in the 2016 season, the Phillies may need to base the type of player he is off of what he does this upcoming season. JP Crawford is projected to be the shortstop of the future for the Phillies, with a glove just as good if not better and a much more disciplined eye. Crawford is expected to be called up to the Phillies at some point during the 2017 season, even if it is just to get a cup of coffee with the big club before he really tests the waters in 2018. 

With Crawford expected to take the reigns at shortstop, that leaves Galvis and Cesar Hernandez to play second base. Hernandez, built like a very different player, led the MLB in triples with 11, while batting .294 with a .371 OBP this past season. Scott Kingery, a highly-praised second basemen within the organization, has his eyes set on being the second basemen of the future within the next couple years as well. 

Hernandez, along with reliever Jeanmar Gomez, are also arbitration-eligible this season, and have until February to agree to a deal before hearings. 

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