Report: Phillies interested in power lefties, out on Bautista
The Philadelphia Phillies are showing interest in myriad power-hitting left-handed outfielders.
The club has maintained contact with free agents Brandon Moss and Michael Saunders, and have been monitoring the trade market on New York Mets slugger Jay Bruce, sources told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
2016 stats
| Player | G | HR | AVG/OBP/SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moss | 128 | 28 | .225/.300/.484 | .784 |
| Saunders | 140 | 24 | .253/.338/.478 | .815 |
| Bruce | 147 | 33 | .250/.309/.506 | .815 |
Left off that list is free-agent outfielder Jose Bautista, as it's said "there is almost no chance the Phillies" sign him, even on a one-year deal. The qualifying offer he rejected from the Toronto Blue Jays was worth $17.2 million, so he'd expect more than that on a one-year contract.
On top of that, Philadelphia would have to forfeit a second-round draft pick and its bonus allotment to sign him, which the team is unwilling to do.
Moss and Saunders make sense, given they can play corner outfield positions, which would be a nice complement to Odubel Herrera.
The only reason Bruce is available via trade is because the Mets have a surplus of outfielders with Yoenis Cespedes, Curtis Granderson, Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and Juan Lagares.