After much speculation, the Philadelphia Phillies’ two longest tenured players will officially not return for another season under new manager Joe Girardi.
Monday evening, the club declined to tender contracts to third baseman Maikel Franco and second baseman Cesar Hernandez. Both had been members of the Phillies’ Opening Day starting lineups in each of the past four seasons; combined, they played 1,488 games in red pinstripes.
Franco and Hernandez were the only two non-tendered players on the team, among the nine possible candidates. Catcher Andrew Knapp avoided arbitration all-together earlier on Monday, signing a one-year contract.