Big spring training statistics could end up being a footnote in the March of Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco. According to a report by Hector Gomez of Z101 in the Dominican Republic, the Phillies have offered long-term contract to the 23-year-old slugger.





Breaking News: Source: The Phillies have offered 3B Maikel Franco a Six-Year, $39-Million deal.@z101digital @ZDeportes — Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) March 21, 2016



If a potential six-year contract were to go into place immediately, the deal could potentially cover all of Franco's arbitration eligible years and the first season of his free agency. After last year's rookie campaign, Franco is arbitration eligible in 2018 and scheduled to hit free agency in 2022.



The six-year, $39 million deal would be similar to what the Tampa Bay Rays did with then-rookie third baseman Evan Longoria in 2008 by signing him to a long-term deal, buying out arbitration before it arrived and guaranteeing significant money to a player without a long track record. In return for doing this with Franco, the Phillies would get cost certainty on a player currently tearing up spring training and coming off a big rookie season.



Based on free-agent dollars last offseason, Franco's future single-season value on the open market--if he plays to the level former Philadelphia great Mike Schmidt believes he can--could come close to the total value of this contract alone.

ST standouts



Heading into Grapefruit League play on March 21, Franco owed a .324/.375/.892 slash line. Last year, he hit .280/.343/.497 across 80 games. If healthy, an MLB scout recently predicted an historic season for the Phillies slugger.



Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.