Report: Maikel Franco “More Than Available”

With the Phillies struggling through what could be one of the worst seasons in franchise history, all possibilities to help improve the team have to be explored. 

Including moving the guy you hoped was a potential franchise price.

When the season began, many people thought this would kind of be a defining year for their young third baseman Maikel Franco.

So far, he has a failing grade.

Franco is struggling mightily this season, the 24-year old is hitting just .224 with nine homers and 37 RBI.

While he has had a nice stretch of games recently, including a home run last night, hitting .302 with two homers, four doubles and seven walks in his last 11 games, it might not be enough for the Phillies to commit to his future in Philadelphia.

As Boston Globe National baseball writer Nick Cafardo reports, Franco is "more than available" in a trade.

Maikel Franco, 3B, Phillies — Once one of the Phillies’ untouchables, the 24-year-old third baseman is more than available, according to a major league source. Franco has had a poor season, hitting .227 with eight homers and 36 RBIs. His game has really gone downhill after showing so much promise last season when he hit 25 homers and knocked in 88 runs.

While Franco has shown promise at times, at this moment, he looks to be very inconsistent not only at the plate, but also in the field.  Through 66 games this season he has six errors after making 13 errors last year.

One other Phillie made Cafardo's list, reliever Joaquin Benoit.

Joaquin Benoit, RHP, Phillies — The Red Sox may need another reliever now that Carson Smith has regressed in his rehab. Could Benoit interest them? He pitched three seasons for Dave Dombrowski in Detroit and the Phillies have made him available. Soon to be 40, Benoit still seems serviceable in late innings.

The MLB trade deadline is July 31.