Photo: Philliedelphia/Steve Trapani
The Phillies seemingly committed to at least three bench spots out of five this offseason with contracts to infielder Kevin Frandsen, catcher Wil Nieves, and tendering a contract to outfielder John Mayberry Jr. However, according to Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg, the Phillies are looking for someone who is essentially John Mayberry… but isn't.
Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News passed on this tidbit from the Winter Meetings:
Sandberg said Phils are looking for a bench piece, a RH-handed hitter that can play CF. Translation: Someone better than John Mayberry Jr.
— Ryan Lawrence (@ryanlawrence21) December 10, 2013
So the Phillies do not really believe in John Mayberry. But yet they tendered him a contract anyway. What does this mean?
One, is that the Phillies believe that they can find a trade partner for him. But any Mayberry trade probably does not net the team much, particularly now that they have essentially publicly said that he is not good enough to play center field. But Mayberry probably helps some team out there, provided he goes for the $1.5 million or so many predict he will get in arbitration.
Hopefully, the Phillies simply get the best possible players back. The Phillies probably need a real option beyond Ben Revere as a backup in center field. It appears that Cesar Hernandez is not considered that option by the Phillies, though he may remain a legitimate prospect at second base. Of course, Chase Utley mans that position for the Phillies already.
