Phils can slug, but defense? Girardi says it will be 'just fine'

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Joe Girardi said until he meets Nick Castellanos in person, he does not know how he will use him in the field.

But even before they meet on Wednesday at BayCare Ballpark, it's easy to see Castellanos as a designated hitter in a lineup loaded with corner outfielders. Certainly, he will play some right field. He could see time in left field, too.

“I think it’s really important to look someone in the eyes and say, ‘This is what we're thinking. What are you thinking?’” Girardi said before Tuesday’s 7-2 victory over the Tigers. “You hope that they align. We know he can play right and we know he's going to DH some. We’re going to talk about other ideas once we get a chance to see him, and see him move. And what his mindset is.”

It has been an exciting week for the Phillies, signing Kyle Schwarber to a four-year, $79 million contract, and Castellanos to a five-year, $100 million contract.

Castellanos will be introduced at a press conference on Wednesday.

Schwarber and Castellanos could make the Phillies one of the best offenses in baseball in 2022. That has been the storyline since Castellanos agreed to terms late Friday night. But Girardi has heard how the team will need to win its share of 7-6, 9-8 and 15-10 games because of a potentially troublesome defense. Schwarber and Castellanos are considered below-average defenders analytically. Schwarber’s -32 Outs Above Average in the outfield is the fourth-lowest mark in the Majors since 2016. Castellanos’s -39 OAA is the second-lowest.

“I do take pride in what I do out in the field, especially on defense,” Schwarber said on Monday. “I feel like I've improved tremendously. I know some numbers, metrics, whatever, don't like it, but it is what it is. I can tell these things to go kick rocks, right? But I know what I can do out in the field. But you know what? I'm sure there's gonna be plenty of time to DH, too. I've had plenty of experience doing that well, so whatever the team needs. That's what I'm here for. … You know, put your trust in Joe here making that decision, and we ride and go.”

It is no surprise that Girardi disagrees with the suggestion that the Phillies cannot win with their defense.

“There’s a lot of teams that do very well in the playoffs that don’t have plus-plus range everywhere,” he said. “The important thing is to secure the baseball -- catch the balls and field the balls that you're capable of fielding. If you do that, your defense is going to be fine, right? It's the extra baserunners on plays that we should make, to me, that kills a team. It adds pitches to your starter, it increases the workload of your relievers because the starters can't go as long. Sometimes you have to use your eighth-inning guy on a night that you maybe wouldn't use him because you kicked the ball around. If we secure the balls that we're supposed to, our defense is going to be just fine.”

The Phillies won 82 games in 2021 with a defense that ranked 24th in baseball with -20 OAA.

There are recent examples of similar defenses going deep in the postseason. The Dodgers (-13 OAA, 19th) and Red Sox (-39 OAA, 30th) each made their respective League Championship Series in 2021. The Yankees (-35 OAA, 30th) made the ALCS in 2019. The Dodgers (-15 OAA, 24th) lost in the World Series in 2018. They lost the World Series with -21 OAA (25th) in 2017.

Philadelphia’s defense remains mostly unchanged from last season, except in left. Phillies left fielders ranked 19th with -5 OAA. Schwarber accumulated -6 OAA in left last year. By comparison, Andrew McCutchen racked up -5 OAA.

Not much of a difference there.

Meanwhile, Castellanos put up -7 OAA in right. By comparison, Harper was worth -6 OAA.

“Secure the baseball,” Girardi said. “You have to catch it first. Sometimes, we get in a hurry and try to do two things at once. One thing at a time. Catch it, transfer it, throw it. [Schwarber and Castellanos] are pretty good at securing the baseball. It's better than I think people talk about. And here's the great thing: Both of them are going to work their butts off to get better. That's just who they are. So I have a lot of belief in what Paco [Figueroa] does as an outfield instructor. I think both of them will continue to improve.”