Many are wondering when Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro is going to trade a number of the team's expensive veterans, but perhaps more should be asking when he will call up a number of promising young prospects to officially begin the rebuilding process.
Amaro is sitting on veterans Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon as they possess much trade value, while he's had trouble shopping Ryan Howard (because he continues to struggle) and Chase Utley (because he doesn't want to be traded and has final say over the matter). While Amaro plays the waiting game, he's likely working on incorporating two of the team's top prospects into the 25-man roster.
Those guys are starting pitcher Zach Eflin and third baseman/first baseman Maikel Franco. Both are needed in some capacity, considering the team has only four starters right now following the injury to Sean O'Sullivan coupled with the lineup's inability to score runs (they're last in the MLB).
Eflin started the 2015 at Double-A Reading and is off to a fast start, going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 0.643 WHIP and a 3.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his first two outings (14 innings). He was named the Eastern League pitcher of the week following those performances.
The 21-year-old right-hander is keen on building off his solid 2014 campaign after he finished 10-7 with a 3.80 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 93 strikeouts in 24 starts (128 innings) with High Class A Lake Elsinore (when he was with the San Diego Padres).
He made one start for the Phillies in spring training and gave up four runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk in three innings. Although the outing didn't go as planned, manager Ryne Sandberg was pleased with what he saw.
"It was an experience for him and it was a chance for us to see him," Sandberg told Stephen Gross of The Morning Call. "He didn't look like a guy who was going to back down at all. ... It was an outing he can grow on. Overall, with the other intangibles I'm talking about - his demeanor, his look about him - that was a positive thing."
Eflin will be competing for a spot in the Phillies' rotation with teammate and fellow right-hander Aaron Nola, who is one of the top prospects in the organization. Nola is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.031 WHIP and seven strikeouts in his first two starts this year (10 2/3 innings).
On the offensive side of the ball, well, there's really nothing. It's pretty clear the team needs to move on from Howard, but it's unknown how they can do that (he's owed $60 million over the next two seasons). The veteran is batting .196/.245/.326 with two runs scored, one home run, four RBIs and 17 strikeouts in 13 games this season.
It's been said the Phillies are willing to cover $50 million of Howard's remaining salary, so if they manage to find a trade partner, will Amaro give Franco the call up to the MLB?
The 22-year-old had a forgettable spring training, but he's already batting .345/.397/.569 with six runs scored, one home run and nine RBIs in 13 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He's been getting more and more reps at first base in 2014 and 2015 likely because Cody Asche seems to be the mainstay at third and Howard is no longer in the team's plans.
"Maikel's time's going to come," Amaro said back in March, via Matt Lombardo of NJ.com. "I know he's upset, because I know that he probably wanted to write a different script for himself, but the fact of the matter is just like any other young player who we feel is going to impact the major leagues, his time will come when it's time for him to come."
That time is likely soon - for all of the aforementioned prospects. The starting rotation could use some youth and the lineup needs to be infused with some hungry power. Any combination of Eflin, Nola and Franco is expected to help the club and officially launch the rebuilding process.
