Darin Ruf, Phillies everyday left fielder?
The Phillies appear that they have their outfield set for the 2013 season. The trade talk as dwindled down quite a bit in the last month and the names left, well there are few. The last of the names being Scott Hairston, is just a name and a highly unlikely signing. If you think the Phillies have their eyes on him, well take a good look at his numbers and you will stop thinking about it. Last season, Hairston played the most games he has ever played in his career, 134. He batted .263 with 20 home runs (the most he has had in his nine seasons) and had 57 rbi. Prior to last season he has never had more than 17 home runs in any season and has had more than 400 at bats once. It would be safe to say that Hairston is a platoon player which the Phillies have plenty of making Hairston’s salary demands 8 million and a TWO YEAR DEAL a ridiculous demand from the Phillies perspective.
With that out-of-the-way, the silence from the rumor mill is beginning to tell us what the Phillies outfield will be. Center field is set with Revere and platoons on the corners to start. Ruf, Mayberry and Nix and Brown your every other day starters for at least the month of April unless separation comes sooner. We already know what the Phillies have in Brown, Mayberry and Nix, no more than 350 at bats if that. Making left field the unknown and Ruf the key to what the Phillies will do or not do prior to the trading deadline. Believing that Ruf is good for 25 home runs, he will be the everyday starter by no later than June. The remaining three of the platoon’s well the worst will be sent to the minors (prediction Brown) making Nix and Mayberry the “everyday starters”.