Phillies Stay or Go: Kevin Frandsen

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The Phillies' first losing season since 2002 is sure to bring wholesale changes in the offseason. But who should stay and who should go? Over the next two weeks, we're asking that very question and putting players under the microscope.
 
We've already looked at two of the Phillies' biggest piece in Roy Halladay (see story) and Carlos Ruiz (see story). Today, we look at a guy who's role has been smaller, but valuable:

Kevin Frandsen
Position: Infielder
Status: Arbitration eligible; completed a one-year, $850,000 deal in 2013
 
Signature games of 2013
A few years behind Pat Burrell at Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, Frandsen made the club right out of spring training and was on the Opening Day roster for just the second time in his seven big league seasons. He wasted little time in making the move worth it when he belted a pinch-hit, bases-loaded double with two outs to clear the bases and give the Phillies a 4-3 victory over Kansas City in his second plate appearance of the season.
 
Frandsen hit a walk-off homer to beat the Mets on June 22, but even that game-winner wasn't as dramatic as the bases-clearing double to beat the Royals in April.
 
Season as a whole
Frandsen set career bests with 119 games and five homers, but his batting average of .234 came nowhere close to the .338 he posted over 55 games for the Phillies in 2012. Oddly enough, Frandsen struck out just 29 times in 278 plate appearances, which means he put the ball in play a lot. Managers Charlie Manuel and Ryne Sandberg suggested Frandsen was simply a victim of bad luck.
 
“I was hitting some rockets early in the year as a pinch-hitter but had little to show for it,” Frandsen said in September.
 
Frandsen led the majors with 14 pinch hits and had starts at three different infield positions. He was dependable and ready for whatever was thrown his way. There were times when Frandsen started four games in a row and then didn’t get off the bench for four games.
 
Stay or go
On a good team where Frandsen can settle into a steady utility or pinch-hitting role, he would be the proverbial unsung hero. On the Phillies in 2013, where he was often asked to do things that weren’t necessarily his strong suit, Frandsen attacked it like he does everything — headfirst. One of those grinders who is always willing to do the dirty work, Frandsen is a bargain. If the Phillies can get him back for another one-year deal, what’s the harm?
 
What they're saying
“I have never been to the playoffs, and it's one thing I want to do and do it with the Phillies. It's a reason I don't want to leave.”
--Kevin Frandsen, September 2013
 
“He cares about being a good teammate. He does his job great. That's from his positive outlook. When he's up there in a pinch-hitter role, he's been able to thrive because he's not worried about his playing time. He's not thinking, ‘Well, I got three hits yesterday and I'm not playing today,’ and that's benefited us. He's not up there with a chip on his shoulder. It's, ‘When I get up there, whatever I need to do, let me know and I'm in.’”
--Jimmy Rollins on Frandsen, June 22, 2013

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