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  4. title => "No more pain for Cesar Hernandez, an edge for Andrew Knapp, more from Phillies' first full-squad workout"
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  6. article_body => "<p>CLEARWATER, Fla. \u2014 When it comes to the Phillies\u2019 pursuit of you-know-who and you-know-who, Cesar Hernandez can\u2019t help but be a little greedy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t have a preference,\u201d the veteran second baseman said. \u201cEveryone knows that they\u2019re really, really good players. If it\u2019s one of them, it\u2019s one of them. If we can get both of them, I\u2019ll take both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Phillies held their first full-squad workout on the fields at Carpenter Complex on Monday. Off the field, attention being paid to the team\u2019s pursuit of free agents Manny Machado and Bryce Harper continued to climb toward a boiling point. The Phils remain in talks with both players and are eager to get a deal with whoever comes and gets it.<\/p>\n<p>Hernandez, 28, arrived in camp with manager Gabe Kapler\u2019s faith as a leadoff man <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/gabe-kapler-still-leaning-toward-cesar-hernandez-his-leadoff-man-jean-segura\" target=\"_blank\"><em>(see story)<\/em><\/a> and a healthy right foot. He broke the foot on a foul ball last July and played through it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not going to lie, it was tough playing with a broken foot,\u201d he said. \u201cIt affected me every single way. But I was able to tolerate the pain. I had to because I wanted to help the team and I was able to make it through.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hernandez\u2019 play suffered because of the injury. He finished with a .253 batting average, down from .294 the previous season, and his OPS dropped to .718 from .793. He struck out a career-high 155 times. Despite his struggles, he walked a career-high 95 times and maintained a solid .356 on-base percentage.<\/p>\n<p>Hernandez has played with several different shortstops \u2014 Freddy Galvis, Scott Kingery, Asdrubal Cabrera \u2014 the last two seasons. He is eager play with newcomer Jean Segura and will spend the spring building a bond.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who's the backup catcher?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Manager Gabe Kapler said Andrew Knapp was \u201cin the driver\u2019s seat,\u201d to be the backup catcher. Veteran newcomer Drew Butera, who signed a minor-league contract earlier this month, will also be in the hunt for the job. Knapp appeared in 53 games behind the plate last season.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Rodriguez hurting<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Veteran utility man Sean Rodriguez, in camp on a minor-league deal, did not participate in workouts Monday because of a sore knee. Kapler said Rodriguez was getting the knee checked.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/myteams-nbc-sports?utm_tags=nbcsphi1356\">Click here<\/a> to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">More on the Phillies<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/manny-machado-bryce-harper-saga-drones-phillies-camp\">The Manny Machado-Brycer Harper saga drones on at Phillies camp <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/details-emerge-regarding-padres-offer-manny-machado\">Details emerge regarding Padres\u2019 offer to Manny Machado <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/phillies-fans-keep-asking-mike-trout-come-philadelphia\">Phillies fans keep asking Mike Trout to come to Philadelphia <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/inquisitive-phillies-catching-prospect-deivi-grullon-shines-early-camp\">Inquisitive Phillies catching prospect Deivi Grullon shines early in camp<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/gabe-kapler-still-leaning-toward-cesar-hernandez-his-leadoff-man-jean-segura\">Where will Phillies\u2019 new additions hit in lineup?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Phillies

Phillies

CLEARWATER, Fla. — When it comes to the Phillies’ pursuit of you-know-who and you-know-who, Cesar Hernandez can’t help but be a little greedy.

“I don’t have a preference,” the veteran second baseman said. “Everyone knows that they’re really, really good players. If it’s one of them, it’s one of them. If we can get both of them, I’ll take both of them.”

The Phillies held their first full-squad workout on the fields at Carpenter Complex on Monday. Off the field, attention being paid to the team’s pursuit of free agents Manny Machado and Bryce Harper continued to climb toward a boiling point. The Phils remain in talks with both players and are eager to get a deal with whoever comes and gets it.

Hernandez, 28, arrived in camp with manager Gabe Kapler’s faith as a leadoff man (see story) and a healthy right foot. He broke the foot on a foul ball last July and played through it.

“I’m not going to lie, it was tough playing with a broken foot,” he said. “It affected me every single way. But I was able to tolerate the pain. I had to because I wanted to help the team and I was able to make it through.”

Hernandez’ play suffered because of the injury. He finished with a .253 batting average, down from .294 the previous season, and his OPS dropped to .718 from .793. He struck out a career-high 155 times. Despite his struggles, he walked a career-high 95 times and maintained a solid .356 on-base percentage.

 

Hernandez has played with several different shortstops — Freddy Galvis, Scott Kingery, Asdrubal Cabrera — the last two seasons. He is eager play with newcomer Jean Segura and will spend the spring building a bond.

Who's the backup catcher?

Manager Gabe Kapler said Andrew Knapp was “in the driver’s seat,” to be the backup catcher. Veteran newcomer Drew Butera, who signed a minor-league contract earlier this month, will also be in the hunt for the job. Knapp appeared in 53 games behind the plate last season.

Rodriguez hurting

Veteran utility man Sean Rodriguez, in camp on a minor-league deal, did not participate in workouts Monday because of a sore knee. Kapler said Rodriguez was getting the knee checked.

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