Robinson Cano suddenly doesn\u2019t resonate quite as much. The Phillies landing Bryce Harper sends a shockwave through the entire NL, and the NL East in\u2026<\/b>
\nRobinson Cano suddenly doesn\u2019t resonate quite as much.
The Phillies landing Bryce Harper sends a shockwave through the entire NL, and the NL East in particular, as a division the Braves won last year just got immensely more difficult.
It\u2019s the culmination of a Phillies offseason in which they have, indeed, spent \u201cstupid\u201d money, in owner John Middleton\u2019s words. Harper\u2019s deal is for 13 years and $330 million. What qualifies as pocket change, now, are contracts for Andrew McCutchen (three years, $50 million) and David Robertson (two years, $23 million). Philadelphia also imported Jean Segura (four years, $59.4 million) in a trade that included ridding itself of Carlos Santana\u2019s two years and $41.1 million.
They spent, and they cashed in prospects for catcher J. T. Realmuto, and the lineup is now potent. Rhys Hoskins will be returning at first and in the middle of the lineup, with his 34 home runs. Odubel Herrera figures to be the third outfielder with Harper and McCutchen, and the 27-year-old put up 22 homers last year. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez likely will be at the top of the lineup, with a strong OBP and 19 steals last season.
A sample lineup:
Their pitching staff is not as fearsome, though Aaron Nola looks like a solid ace. Jake Arrieta faltered last season and finished with a 3.96 ERA. Dallas Keuchel remains a free agent and was linked to the Phillies earlier this offseason.<\/p>\n