Phillies Mailbag: Sanchez, Turner, and Are the Phillies in on Skubal?

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  Each week we take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in each Tuesday afternoon to hear your questions answered on the air.

Did Cristopher Sanchez just lose his opportunity to start the All-Star game?
~Drew

I must say, I don't think I've ever seen a pitcher give up nine earned runs and still have an ERA of 2.62 when it was all over.   That's a real testament to what Cristopher Sanchez has been for the Phillies this season.

On a warm Summer afternoon in another city, Sanchez had - what quite objectively looking at the numbers - the worst start of his career.

The good news is, I think he is still in play for an All-Star game start.

The obvious choice for that honor would be Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers, who is putting up the best numbers in baseball in several key categories.  If you watched him face the Phillies, you probably have an idea what a stud he is.

But he may be ineligible to pitch.

According to MLB rules, a starter who pitches the Sunday before the All-Star Break is ineligible to pitch during the All-Star game.  They take part in the experience and are still very much considered an All-Star, but they are not able to pitch.

That works to the advantage of Sanchez.

I think that the 2.62 ERA is still pretty darn good, though there are some other starters on that list that are impressive.

Manager Dave Roberts will choose from Sanchez, his own Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Chase Burns, and Paul Skenes.

Roberts chose Skenes last year.

So I think it's certainly a possibility that Sanchez would be the choice.  It's also possible he made his decision ahead of yesterday's start and that it would not cause him to change his mind.

Roberts might also play to the home crowd.  It would not shock me at all.

What do the Phillies do about Trea Turner for the next seven years?
~Dan

The Phillies signed Trea Turner to an 11-year contract after it was clear the middle infielded needed an upgrade after the 2022 season.  We are only in year four, which means sevel more years remain on his contract.

Something probably will change with Turner.

I think that the first possibility is that the Phillies move Turner to second base.  Of the two positions in the middle of the infield, shortstop is the most demanding.  And Turner has struggled with his defense this year.

Turner played primarily second base when the Dodgers acquired him from 2021 until the shortstop position opened up the following season.

The other possibility is that Turner moves to the outfield.

When Turner rose to the Major Leagues with the Washington Nationals he primarily played center field.

I'm not sure if center field is where he would land, but I probably would try him there first if there are no other options.  But left field is probably the better option of the two.

To me, if Turner is in left field, he must be productive offensively.  He did win a batting title last season.  I tend to think that when his bat is not working his defense suffers.  The worrisome thing is that since he's been hitting, his defense has not improved too much.

Maybe in left field he will not have to worry as much.  That's where I would put him.

Would the Phillies really be in on Tarik Skubal? I saw a report they might be.
~Phil

I think that Heyman is right - that Skubal would be a very nice item in the arsenal to have against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs.

But is it realistic?

I tend to think no.  I think that the Phillies, like many other teams, will at least check in and see what it would take to acquire Skubal in a trade.

Skubal, a free agent to be, will still be a very costly acquisition prospect-wise.

I think that with the other Phillies needs - which include right-handed bat, left-handed reliever, and a starter that can take the ball every fifth day - will cost them enough on their own.

To add Skubal will be a stretch.

Could the Tigers be more motivated to get something, anything in return and just want to unload the money and Phillies take him?  I'm sure if that's an option the Phillies would of coruse do it.

But don't count on it.