When it comes to what they need him to accomplish off the bench, the Philadelphia Phillies have a fantastic role player, but it’s still unclear if he should get more playing time.
Edmundo Sosa, a role player for the Philadelphia Phillies, is quite impressive.
He has the ability to start several games without coming off the bench and then contribute significantly.
Let’s take Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Washington Nationals, where Sosa blasted a solo home run and added an RBI single. Because he can play both third and second base, he is a reliable defensive player and the kind of bench guy that every manager wants.
So, the question today is: ought Sosa to be playing more? Playing too much might expose bench players, so that’s always a risk.
Nonetheless, it’s challenging to ignore Sosa’s value to the team.
The 28-year-old hit.251/.293/.330 in the previous season, with 15 doubles and 10 home runs.
Sosa reportedly signed a $1.7 million, one-year contract to return to Philadelphia. That might end up being one of Major League Baseball’s best deals.
On July 30, 2022, the Phillies acquired him in exchange for JoJo Romero from the St. Louis Cardinals. Not much happened to shake the transaction wire after that move.
Occasionally, the tiniest transactions yield the greatest rewards.
Philadelphia was sorely missing Sosa’s contribution during the previous season, as they were just one win away from making it to the World Series for the second consecutive year.
Sosa’s return for one more season to strengthen the bench proved worthwhile.
There will be injuries among the players. It will take days off for players.
Sosa will be waiting for it to happen, which it will over the course of an exhausting 162-game regular season.
Manager Rob Thomson is likely to start Sosa in the lineup. It would be unwise of him not to.