(Photo via Zimbio.com)
Cody
Asche had the potential to be part of a renewed Philadelphia Phillies core as of 2013. As the 26-year-old works through his fourth major
league season it's become possible that he's entered his last
calendar year as a member of the organization. Encouraging evidence
in the rebuild has dramatically increased the number of good young
players who could become part of the next Phillies' playoff team,
which directly affects Asche's tenure.
Platoon Player?
Strictly
playing left field this year has helped Asche to up his defensive
game. He had been an exclusive third baseman until the spring of
2015, when the Phillies assigned him a left fielder's glove. Maikel
Franco, one of the aforementioned youthful position players, took
over the hot corner at the start of last season, which necessitated
Asche's move.
The
Phillies didn't cut ties with Asche, via trade or some other
transaction last year. Philadelphia hasn't done that so far this
season either. That's because the former fourth round 2011 draft
selection is still seen in a positive light. A spring training
oblique strain, ongoing questions surrounding whether he's strictly a
platoon player and at what position, have prevented him from starting
regularly for the Phillies throughout the current campaign.
Auditioning
General
manager Matt Klentak was open about using this season to audition
various players for the future. Asche's charge is to prove that he
can produce at the plate and therefore justify an everyday spot in
the outfield. Defensively, he's proven to be a competent, though not
an outstanding fielder. However, Asche plays left, where Greg
Luzinski and Pat Burrell were part of World Series championship
squads in 1980 and 2008, respectively. So, a Gold Glove isn't
required in left field on a winner, as long as that player's bat
sings consistently.
Tyler
Goeddel, who played in Double-A for the Tampa Bay Rays last season,
has already demonstrated a strong arm when playing in left field.
Offensively, he hasn't been given enough at bats for the Phillies to
gauge whether he can play in the outfield regularly. However, his
ongoing Rule 5 status indicates that Philadelphia may want him to be
part of its long-term plans.
Clock Ticks
Then,
there's All-Star Odubel Herrera. His roster spot is fully secured,
which means that there's only two, or three, available outfield spots
moving forward. Asche won't return to third, unless Franco is
shelved, for the season. Plus, the volume of prospects in the
upper-minor league system that includes: Nick Williams, possibly Cam
Perkins, Dylan Cozens, Andrew Pullin and Roman Quinn (if he can ever
stay healthy) leads one to believe that at least a few of those
players will earn a shot in the Phillies' major league outfield soon.
So, Asche must convince the front office that he's a core piece, or
he'll probably be traded this summer, or in the upcoming off-season.
