“Put me in, coach

I’m ready to play today

Look at me, I can be centerfield.”

That was part of the refrain of the John Fogerty song “Centerfield,” which has become a MLB staple.

For the Phillies, centerfield is a current issue.

Johan Rojas has the fielding skills that can be compared to Garry Maddox, but the Phils aren’t quite sure if the light-hitting Rojas is the answer.

In this week’s version of my Behind the Plate column, I’ll look at some of the Phillies options for centerfield and the outfield, and also their possible free agent signings.

Center of Attention ... In July, the Phillies thought they had their center field problem solved with the acquisition of 29-year-old right-handed hitting outfielder Austin Hays from the Orioles for Seranthony Dominquez.

However, Hays wasn’t the answer. He was slowed by hamstring issues and sat out most of September with a kidney infection. Overall, he appeared in only 22 games and hit .256 with two homers and six RBIs. The Phillies recently decided to non-tender him a contract, as he was eligible for salary arbitration.

So, where can they go from here?

The current option would be to go with either Rojas or Brandon Marsh, but Marsh’s slow second half last season reportedly has him on the trading block.

There has been plenty of growing chatter about the Phils giving top outfield prospect 20-year-old Justin Crawford a long look in spring training to possibly begin the year in center.

Crawford hit .333 in 40 games at Double-A Reading with three homers and 26 RBIs. Between Reading and Single-A Jersey Shore, Crawford hit .287 overall with nine homers, 61 RBIs and 42 stolen bases, 32 walks and 93 strikeouts. His combined OPS was just over .800.

The Phils would like to give him a solid year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this spring, but might take a chance on him in the lineup. Conversely, Crawford’s name also has been mentioned as trade bait for a front-line pitcher, such as the White Sox’s Garrett Crochet, who has been on top of several team’s lists.

Still, Crawford would look good in the leadoff spot.

What Could Have Been ... In 2016, the Phils thought they had their long-term solution to their center field problems with speedster Roman Quinn.

Unfortunately, Quinn couldn’t stay off the injured list. In his six seasons, Quinn battled through a hip flex issue, a torn finger ligament, and a UCL, among others.

With the Phillies, Quinn hit .223 in 151 games with 43 stolen bases, the most in a season being 12 in 2020. Quinn suffered a ruptured Achilles in 2021 that would lead to the end of his Phillies career the following year.

Then there was spring training phenom Matt Vierling, who made his debut in late 2021 and hit .324 in 21 games.

Like Quinn, the Phils thought they found another gem, but Vierling floundered in 2022, hitting .246 with six homers and 32 RBIs in 117 games.

Vierling was sent to the Tigers or Gregory Soto in 2023, and he became an integral part of their playoff run this season.

The Bigger Picture ... Along with Crawford as a possibility, the Phils have been linked to trading for either Oakland’s Brent Rooker or the White Sox’s Luis Robert Jr.

The 29-year-old right-handed hitting Rooker hit 39 homers and drove in 112 runs with a .293 average last season. He also had an OPS of .927, but had 177 strikeouts and 59 walks. In 2023, Rooker hit 30 homers with 69 RBIs, and batted .246 with 172 strikeouts and 49 walks.

Robert Jr., a 26-year-old right-handed hitting pure centerfielder, hit .246 with 14 homers and 35 RBIs with a .657 OPS and 23 stolen bases. He struck out 141 times and walked 28 times. But the previous season, Robert Jr. hit 38 homers with 80 RBIs and a .264 average, 20 stolen bases and an .857 OPS. He had 172 strikeouts and 30 walks.

Both Rooker or Robert Jr. might flourish with a change of scenery.

On the free-agent market, there isn’t much for center fielders, and all of them are over the 30-year-old plateau.

The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez and the Orioles’ Anthony Santander aren’t centerfielders by nature, but they would be welcomed. Like Crochet, however, they will be in demand on the free-agent market.

The Cubs’ Cody Bellinger exercised his player option for 2025, and it isn’t a given that the 30-year-old will be back with the Cubs.

Man in the Middle ... Over the years, the most recognizable Phillies’ center fielders were Richie Ashburn (1948-59), Tony Gonzalez (1961-64, 1968), Garry Maddox (1975-83), Lenny Dykstra (1989-94), Doug Glanville (1998-02), Aaron Rowand (2006-08), and Shane Victorino (2008-12).

Yet, there may have been some that we have forgotten.

How about Johnny Briggs (1965-66), Don Lock (1967), Larry Hisle (1969-70) Willie Montanez (1971-72). Del Unser (1973-74) Andy Van Slyke (1995), Rickey Otero (1996), Midre Cummings (1997), Marlon Byrd (2003-04), and Odubel Herrara (2015-18), to name a few.

And where have you gone, Don Hahn?

Soto Sweepstakes ... The biggest story in the offseason continues to center around Juan Soto and where he will land.

The Yankees and Mets are still reportedly at the top of the list, as both teams will presumably be in a bidding war to push Soto’s numbers close to the $700 million mark. Lately, the Dodgers have loomed as a possible strong suitor, but the question there is would Soto accept deferred money like Shoehi Ohtani did to work out his deal.

The Phillies are still in the hunt, but it would have to be for the right price with the current high pacts of Bryce Harper, Zach Wheeler, and Trea Turner. If they could sign Soto, the Phils could keep Marsh in center and move Nick Castellanos to left.

Could Have, Maybe Should Have ... Last Friday, the Royals traded pitcher Brady Singer to the Reds for second baseman Jonathan India. Both Singer and India were mentioned as trade options for the Phillies.

Singer went 9-13 with a 3.71 ERA and had 170 strikeouts in 179.2 innings, while India hit .248 with 15 homers and 48 RBIs, stole 13 bases and had a .749 OPS.

Time Passages ... On Nov. 25, 2005, Aaron Rowand was traded with pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Daniel Haigewood by the White Sox to the Phillies for first baseman Jim Thome and cash.

Rowand hit .270 with 13 homers and 69 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in his final year with the White Sox, while Thome played in only 59 games due to injuries and had seven homers and 30 RBIs along with a .207 average with the Phillies.

Gonzalez never pitched for the Phillies due to injuries, and he was traded with Gavin Floyd the following December to the White Sox for Freddie Garcia.

Check the Calendar ... Baseball’s Winter Meetings will be held Dec. 8-12 in Dallas, Texas, and there should be a flurry of action.

The Phillies will report to Clearwater between Feb. 10-12, and their first Grapefruit League is against Detroit in Lakeland. The following day, they will open at home against Baltimore.

Your thoughts are always welcomed; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com.