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Amaro: 'We View Franco As A Better Third Baseman' Than Asche

By Andrew Porter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Cody Asche didn't necessarily do anything wrong. The 24-year-old third baseman has played 201 games over the past three seasons with the Phillies, but on Monday night, Asche was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in hopes of grooming him into a left-fielder.

22-year-old third base prospect Maikel Franco is looming, hitting .336 for the Iron Pigs with three home runs and 17 RBIs.

"We viewed him as an averaged third baseman," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said of Asche on Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Tuesday. "We view Maikel Franco as a better third baseman. And so, it was a good problem to have, it's problem that we're solving by moving him [Asche] to a different position, and I think that's going to bode well for the organization.

Listen: Ruben Amaro Jr. on the 94WIP Morning Show

 

"In my heart of hearts, I believe that Cody is going to be part of the core players we're going to try to move this organization forward with," Amaro said. "We felt, because of the situation that we have with regard to Maikel Franco---who is going to be coming at some point, when we feel that he's ready to come---that the best thing for our organization is to give Cody Asche an opportunity to be our every day left-fielder. That's what we think he can do. That's where we think he can most benefit the organization, the club, and frankly I think it's best for him."

Speculation is that Franco could be called up the Phillies as early as this week.

"It's possible," Amaro said. "He's getting very close, he's playing very well. When it's time for Maikel Franco to come to the Major Leagues where we feel he's ready to stay there for a long period of time, we will bring him to the Big Leagues."

As the left-side of the Phillies' infield gets younger, the right-side of the infield continues to decline. Chase Utley, 36, and Ryan Howard, 35, once corner stones of the organization, could be blocking other rising, younger players.

"Listen, we have obligations to them and they have obligations to us," Amaro said of Utley and Howard. "They're still very---we're hopeful---that they can be productive players. Right now, Chase is going through a tough stretch and these guys are under contract. We have Chase in a situation where he is an iconic player who has had a tough month, but swung the bat very well and frankly was not very fortunate."

"Howie [Howard], again, the guy is under contract," Amaro said. We're hoping that can provide a little bit more offense for us than he did in the past and now that he's healthy he's actually swinging the bat pretty well."

Utley is off to the worst start of his career. In 112 plate appearances through 29 games, the six-time All-Star second baseman has just 12 hits (.122). Utley's $15 million option for the 2016 season will vest if he reaches 500 plate appearances.

"Well, I'm not quite sure yet," Amaro said when asked if Utley will be in Philly for the next wave of success. "Depending on his health, I believe that Chase certainly could be part of that transition. That's one of the reasons we signed him to the contract that we did, so he can be one of those guys that can transition over and be an important part of the club moving forward."

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