PHILADELPHIA -- Manager Pete Mackanin made a concerted effort late last season -- and even late into the offseason -- to say the Phillies needed to add at least a couple hitters to their 2017 lineup.
He has not said that this season.
There are two reasons for that. First, the Phillies have enough talented position players that they likely will get another opportunity to prove themselves next season. Second, the Phillies could really use one or two established veterans to help the rotation. Only Aaron Nola is a lock to make next season's rotation with Jerad Eickhoff, Vince Velasquez, Nick Pivetta, Zach Eflin, Ben Lively, Jake Thompson, Mark Leiter, Tom Eshelman and possibly others fighting for jobs.