Ryan Howard was ultimately the final piece, a big one to say the least, of the 2008 World Series squad to play in Philadelphia. With recent struggles at the plate and with injuries, the Phillies have been looking for a long-term replacement for Howard for years.
Last season former catcher Tommy Joseph took the next step towards being Howard’s successor. Despite getting just over 300 at-bats and platooning with Howard, Joseph hit 21 home runs for Philadelphia.
Many still question whether Joseph can be the long-term answer, pointing towards his 75 strikeouts and sub-.260 batting average.
With Brandon Moss being a free agent, the Phillies could have easily returned Joseph to a platoon role with the lefty Moss.