By just about any measure, Aaron Altherr’s 2018 season has been a disappointment. Despite a two home run outburst in last Friday’s victory over the Miami Marlins, the 27-year-old is slashing just .189/.301/.352 in 2018. In a year where some thought Altherr was poised for a Jayson Werth or Michael Morse type breakout, he spent over five weeks – including the entire months of August – at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He’s now out of options.
And yet, Altherr’s athleticism makes it difficult to move on from him. With the Phillies having received next-to-no answers on the future of their outfield in 2018, Altherr has to be in the discussion for the team’s 2019 plans.