The Philadelphia Phillies are believed to view outfielder Josh Hamilton as a "fallback option" in case they are unable to sign top free agent targets B.J. Upton and Michael Bourn, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com:
The Phillies are believed to have superstar outfielder Josh Hamilton as a fallback option in case B.J. Upton and Michael Bourn can't be signed. So Hamilton is at least on their radar.
Heyman notes that the Phillies are currently "eyeing" Upton and Bourn as they pursue an answer to their void in center field. However, Phillies president and CEO Dave Montgomery told Heyman that he doesn’t think "there’s a whole lot we’re not considering" at this point.
Philadelphia traded veterans Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence last summer, and the team figures to add one if not two outfields this winter.
The market for Hamilton is currently hazy as several teams, including the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers, have all been tied to the slugger in some way.
Last season with the Rangers Hamilton hit .285/.354/.577 with 31 doubles and 43 home runs over 562 at-bats.