3 Phillies players who left this winter that the fans will miss
By Tim Boyle
2. Phillies fans will miss the versatility and ability of Matt Vierling
Matt Vierling became a big part of the Phillies last year. Capable of playing all over the field and starting 50 games as their center fielder, he gave them an alternative to Odubel Herrera. He would also see significant action at both corner outfield spots. Vierling even got to play a little first base, second base, and third base.
An imperfect hitter, Vierling was a solid part-time player for the Phillies to grow with. He slashed .246/.297/.351 for the team last season. It was good enough for them to consider keeping him in a similar role for the 2023 season. Things changed. The Phillies were able to package him in a trade to the Detroit Tigers to help out their bullpen. Vierling was one of the players sent to Detroit for reliever Gregory Soto. He should get to play even more with the Tigers. Meanwhile, the Phillies are left a little short-handed when it comes to quality utility men.
Vierling was unlikely to ever perform well enough to become a starter in Philadelphia. The Tigers will suit him well. He’ll have a chance to settle in at only one or two positions if he hits well enough. Otherwise, we can expect him to continue floating around the field and being the right-handed half in a platoon.
There’s not too much sadness from losing Vierling due to the Phillies adding a good reliever in return. It’s now up to a couple of other guys still with the organization to help replace him.