Klentak: Phils weighing different approaches

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Phillies find themselves in a tricky spot at the Winter Meetings.

They know they need help offensively after finishing last in Major League Baseball in runs scored, which is why they have been linked lately to players like Andrew McCutchen, J.D. Martinez, Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson, who are available in trades. But the Phillies also know they need to provide their prospects the opportunity to prove themselves in 2017.

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“That topic is the one that we have spent the most time discussing, not just here, but this offseason, about striking the right balance between adding a veteran bat or veteran free agent to this team to make our team better,” Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said Monday afternoon in the Phillies’ suite, “but again, not taking playing time away from players that need the playing time. … We are continuing to talk about trade acquisitions and talk to agents for free agents to see if the right opportunity exists to blend all those factors together, but what we do not want to do is bring in so many veterans that we are denying opportunities to our young players.”

McCutchen, Martinez, Bruce and Granderson are outfielders. The Phillies acquired Howie Kendrick last month in a trade with the Dodgers. Klentak said Kendrick will be the team’s everyday left fielder. Odubel Herrera is the center fielder, leaving Roman Quinn, Aaron Altherr and other younger players to play in right …

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