It's past time for the Phillies to move on from Cesar Hernandez at second base

Cesar Hernandez during 2018 season
(Photo by Keith Allison via Wiki Commons)

If you want to go ahead and say that this has been a roller coaster of a season for Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez then you would be on a really exaggerated summer coaster ride.

What this season has demonstrated as well as any in recent memory is exactly what I was saying about him before it even began – it’s time for him to go.

Hernandez has some of the most empty and inconsequential offensive statistics in the game, his defense is nothing special, and at age 29 next season he should not be considered a piece for a future contending Phillies ball club.

This season began with Hernandez hot. Over the Phillies first 43 games through May 19 he was slashing .282/.392/.448 with six homers, 15 RBI, 34 runs scored and nine stolen bases. That would represent the roller coaster upward climb.

Then on May 20, Hernandez wrapped up a road trip in Saint Louis by going 0-3. It was the start of that roller coaster drop-off. And unlike most roller coasters, this one would not be over quick, nor would it lead to a series of thrilling ups and downs.

From that May 20 game through nearly the entirety of summer, Hernandez’ performance would plummet through a prolonged, nauseating, lineup defeating drop.

Across 93 games through September 3, Hernandez hit just .237 with a .309 slugging percentage. Over more than twice the number of plate appearances as in his quick start he hit one fewer home run and stole one fewer base.

It’s not as if Hernandez has been playing outstanding defense. His 1,217.2 innings played is the third-most of anyone at second base in all of Major League Baseball this year. According to Fangraphs he ranks just 12th on their Advanced Defensive Index and 13th in Defensive WAR at the Keystone.

And still, manager Gabe Kapler kept writing his name into the starting lineup. Hernandez has started 138 of the Phillies 146 games through Friday night.

Hernandez made $5.1 million this season and will be arbitration-eligible this coming off-season. He will most certainly be looking for a raise, possibly to the $10+ million per year mark. He cannot become a free agent until after the 2020 season.

There will be a bevy of free agent second basemen or players who could be used at the position who will be hitting the market this winter. The list includes potentially enticing names like Brian Dozier, DJ LeMahieu, Jed Lowrie, Daniel Murphy, Ian Kinsler, and Asdrubal Cabrera. But each has already reached age 30, and all will be hoping for expensive contracts at multiple years of commitment.

With two years remaining until his own free agency, and with those years coming in his ages 29 and 30 seasons, it is entirely possible that Phillies GM Matt Klentak could convince some contending general manager to give up a young prospect with reasonable upside in a trade for Hernandez.

Pair of Royals are among the bats linked to Phillies

Whit Merrifield (L), Mike Moustakas (R) linked to Phillies

Following a split of Monday's twi-night doubleheader with the host New York Mets at Citi Field, the Philadelphia Phillies (50-39) find themselves still tied for first place with the Atlanta Braves in the National League East Division.

Yesterday's split highlighted weaknesses that remain with this team as it battles to stay in contention with the calendar pushing towards the middle of July.

In the opener, a 4-3 loss in 10 innings, the Phillies rapped out 10 hits and the lineup worked the Mets pitching staff for seven walks. However, they also grounded into a pair of double plays, and twice they failed on attempted sacrifice bunts.

The Phillies saw the leadoff man reach safely in each of the first three innings but left two men on base in each of the first two. Following a solo home run from Maikel Franco in the fourth, they wouldn't score again.

Bases loaded with one out in the top of the eighth? Nothing. First two men on in the top of the 10th. Nada. Phillies hitters went 2-13 with runners in scoring position and struck out 13 times.

In the nightcap, a 3-1 victory, the offensive production can be summed up in two words: Aaron Nola. The young ace starting pitcher surrendered just one hit and walked just one batter while striking out 10 to gain his 12th victory.

Oh, and that offensive production? Nola also provided his own offense, slashing a two-out, bases-clearing double in the top of the 5th inning. It was one of only two hits that the Phillies would produce in the entire game.

It is no secret that the first place Philadelphia Phillies have struggled to score runs for much of this season. Sure, they have scored in double-digits seven times. Those include a 20-run explosion way back on April 7, and a 17-run outburst just last week.

But those are enigmas. The Phillies have scored three runs or fewer in nearly 44% (39 of 89) of their games. That figure includes a streak that has now reached the team's last four straight dating back to the 17 runs scored last Friday in Pittsburgh.

Despite being tied for the National League's third-best record, the Phillies are just 10th in runs scored. A big part of the problem is that they lack consistent pop. As a group, Phillies hitters have worked the league's sixth-best on-base percentage, but their overall OPS is just 11th among the NL's 15 clubs.

Clearly this team can use one or two upgrades to the everyday lineup. These need to be hitters who can come in and make a legitimate impact on the Phillies ability to score runs on a more consistent basis.

The crown jewel of the 2018 MLB non-waiver trade deadline remains shortstop Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles. As each day passes with no deal, a new "favorite" pops up in the news. Last week, the Phillies were co-favorites. Then it became the LA Dodgers. Then the Milwaukee Brewers. Now it's the New York Yankees turn.

The problem with each of those stories has been that when you delve into the details behind the headlines, there is always a "but", such as teams not wanting to give up a big package, or Machado not wanting to switch to third base.

Jon Heyman tweeted out the following on Tuesday morning:

manny's interest in staying at SS doesn't seem like it's deterring yanks' interest, though the match isn't necessarily seen as very likely in any case. (indians are the other team that would want Machado for 3B, the interested NL want him for SS)— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 10, 2018 

Fact is that even with the most inside of MLB insiders, it is all going to be speculation until the last hours, perhaps the last minutes, before an actual deal is in place. Machado clearly is a perfect fit for what the Phillies need: a proven middle-of-the-order run producer.

The Phillies remain as much a contender to acquire his services as any other team. Just yesterday, Roch Kubatko of MASN wrote this:

"Machado draws the biggest crowds to his locker as visiting media peck away at him. Would he like to play in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles? Would he prefer cheese steaks or pizza? But he has no choice until the offseason. He can’t pick his city or his position. He goes and plays where he’s told."

In his own piece on the Phillies offensive struggles and the need to add a hitter or two, Matt Gelb at The Athletic mentioned five more names that team management may be looking to acquire.