PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) -- Winter is clear and present in Philadelphia, but Phillies pitchers and catchers are gearing up for spring training next week in sunny Florida.
In these difficult times, the phrase "Phillies Pitchers and Catchers" is a beautiful thing.
Not long after that, full squad workouts will begin for the Phils. And one of the starting positions appears to be left for the taking — center field.
"I would say that’s one spot that we have to iron out," Phillies Manager Joe Girardi said during a video conference Wednesday.
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Girardi indicated that with Didi Gregorius returning to shortstop, Jean Segura will be slotted regularly at second base. That means Scott Kingery will be vying for playing time at various spots in the field, including center field, where Girardi sees him competing with Roman Quinn and Adam Haseley.
He said those three guys are probably the ones they’re considering the most, at this point.
"And we need one guy to take hold of it, or even two guys. I’d be willing to platoon. I’d be willing to do a lot of different things out there. We just want the most production that we can get from that position, and I think it’s important. They all offer different things."
Girardi says Quinn offers speed, Haseley gets on base a lot with the ability for extra base hits, and Kingery "can do a little bit of everything: He's got power, he's got speed, he's a doubles guy."
Girardi continued: "So, you’re looking for someone to just say, ‘Hey, this is mine and you’re not taking it,’ and that’s what we hope happens in spring training."
Why weren’t any of them able to take a hold of center field last season? Girardi pointed to injuries that kept all three players out of action.
Out of 60 games, Quinn played the most with 41, followed by Haseley’s 40 and Kingery’s 36. And while the skipper didn’t mention this, per se, Kingery’s numbers weren’t good last season, and neither were Quinn’s.
Haseley hit .278 with a .348 on base percentage, but evidently his season overall wasn't enough to convince Girardi to declare him the everyday center fielder. Outsiders have noted the Phillies' need of a strong center fielder, so it doesn’t seem like they would disagree with Girardi’s comments on Wednesday.
Kingery, nearly 27 years old, is in the fourth year of a six-year, $24 million contract, which he signed prior to the 2018 season, and prior to playing in the big leagues. According to Spotrac, Kingery is due a raise this season, and former General Manager Matt Klentak didn’t sign him to this contract in 2018 so he could be in and out of the lineup.
"You could take hold of it in spring training, but you have to continue to produce, because there’s gonna be other guys that are trying to get that spot," Girardi said. "So, that will definitely be a competition."
Girardi did not specifically mention Odúbel Herrera as a contender for center field, but the question looms: What will the Phillies do with their former everyday center fielder. Herrera has one year left on his five-year contract and is owed slightly over $10 million this season, according to Spotrac.
But Herrera hasn't played in the major leagues since 2019, when he was suspended for a domestic abuse violation.
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Herrera was charged with simple assault of his girlfriend, who dropped the charge, in 2019. He’s not on the Phillies 40-man roster, but he is still owed his salary.
New President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowksi was asked Wednesday if they’ve made a decision on Herrera, and whether he could be a non-roster invitee to spring training.
"There’s still a couple things we’re working through. The possibility exists," Dombrowski said. "But I'm still not 100% ready to make that announcement."
And if Herrera is at spring training, Dombrowski said, he will "of course compete" for center field.
Asked how much weight public opinion will hold in the decision to bring Herrera back, given the serious nature of the assault charge, Dombrowski said that's not really a factor involved in what they are working through.