LAS VEGAS _ The Phillies may still be in the mix to land Bryce Harper, but they seemed to provide another indication Tuesday afternoon that their first preference is Manny Machado.
The Phillies, according to a source, made their first move of the Winter Meetings by signing veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen. The three-year deal was first reported by The Athletic. The 32-year-old McCutchen hit .255 last season with a .792 OPS in 569 at-bats with the Giants and Yankees.
Once a center fielder, McCutchen has transitioned in recent seasons to left and right field. He ranked ninth last season among all outfielders with a .368 on-base percentage and had the eighth most walks in baseball. McCutchen's plate discipline and his ability to reach base replaces what Carlos Santana brought to the lineup.
For now, McCutchen fills the corner-outfield vacancy the Phillies created when they shipped Santana to Seattle in exchange for Jean Segura and moved Rhys Hoskins from left field to first base. They could still elect to move one of their young outfielders and create space for Harper, but the more likely reaction will be a concentrated effort to land Machado, who would likely play shortstop but could be persuaded to play third base.
The Phillies have long coveted Machado, who was drafted by the Orioles when the key figures of the Phillies front office were still working in Baltimore. But as this offseason began, it remained unclear if the Phillies would zero in on Machado or Harper. They had positional needs for both players. General manager Matt Klentak said on Tuesday that he would not "telegraph our intentions." Adding McCutchen was not a telegraph, but it may have been a hint.
.jpg?w=600)
