Categories: Rumors

Phillies reportedly targeting outfielders on trade market

Dave Dombrowski has some interesting decisions to make before the July 30 trade deadline. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Consider #tradeSZN officially underway.

On MLB Network Radio, former Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden revealed that multiple executives have told him that the Philadelphia Phillies top priority so far in trade conversations has been an outfield upgrade.

Despite an MLB-best 41-18 record, the Phillies are in a bit of a murky place with their three starting outfielders currently.

Right fielder Nick Castellanos has underwhelmed with just a .612 OPS in 59 games this season. However, he was an All-Star as recently as last season, and is in the third season of a five-year/$100 million contract.

Center fielder Johan Rojas is hitting only .223, and if the Phillies proceed with him they run the risk that he becomes a non-factor in the postseason at the plate like last year, when he hit .093 in the playoffs. At the same time, Rojas has 13 stolen bases, and even if there were some early-season hiccups, he has game-changing ability defensively in center field.

Left Fielder Brandon Marsh has seven defensive runs saved this season, and is an All-Star caliber player when facing right-handed pitching, which he has an .878 OPS against this season. However, Marsh has just five hits in 36 at-bats (.139) against left-handed pitching this season, which hasn’t helped to squash the belief from some that he may need a platoon partner.

So it isn’t surprising to hear that Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is getting a feel for the outfield market, with just under two months until the July 30 trade deadline. The question is, what will happen to Castellanos, Rojas and Marsh is the Phillies make an upgrade?

That likely depends on the extent to which the Phillies add, assuming they do ultimately acquire an outfielder.

They could trade for Lane Thomas of the Washington Nationals, for example, and have him replace Marsh in the lineup against left-handed pitchers, while also giving manager Rob Thomson someone who could play left field if the team decides to use Marsh in center field over Rojas. That would be more of a minor addition, essentially aimed at upgrading over Cristian Pache.

But with a core of players largely in their early 30s and the best record in baseball, the window is never going to be more open for the Phillies than it is now, so this doesn’t seem like the summer to just tweak around the edges. So perhaps a more major addition is in store.

From here, it’s hard to imagine anything drastic being done with Castellanos during the season. For now, the Phillies just have to hope he heats up. And while the .706 OPS he posted in May isn’t impressive, it’s certainly better than the .501 mark he had in April.

What they could do from there is look to acquire a player like Tyler O’Neill of the Boston Red Sox, with the thinking that he’ll be the full-time left fielder, while Marsh and Rojas platoon in center field depending upon who is pitching for the other team. O’Neill is a two-time Gold Glove Award winner that has 11 home runs and an .843 OPS this season. The only issue is he’s struggled to stay healthy, and the 28-year-old is currently on the injured list with right knee inflammation. But as a rental, the asking price likely wouldn’t be overwhelming for O’Neill.

The all-in move would be something like what was discussed on the latest episode of The Phillies Show with Ruben Amaro Jr., Jim Salisbury and Todd Zolecki — trading for a controllable outfielder like Luis Robert of the Chicago White Sox.

Robert has missed most of this season with a right hip flexor strain, but is currently on a rehab assignment and would give the Phillies a massive upgrade in center field if he can prove that he’s healthy. A year ago, Robert hit .264 with 38 home runs, 80 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, six defensive runs saved and a 4.9 WAR. On a team full of stars, Robert would give the Phillies yet another. And in his case, he’s still only 26 years old. He’s also signed for just $15 million next season, with affordable $20 million club options available for 2026 and 2027.

Of course, trading for someone like Robert would require giving up significant capital. Presumably No. 1 overall prospect Andrew Painter — who is out for this season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery — would be off the table. But infielder Aidan Miller, outfielder Justin Crawford and RHP Mick Abel, all first-round picks, all would be of interest to the White Sox. So would some emerging stars in the system, like shortstop Starlyn Caba and RHP George Klassen. Rojas probably would also move in a deal like this.

Dombrowski will have to balance this summer not wanting to leave the cupboard bare with trying to make sure that this era of Phillies baseball ends with at least one World Series title. It’s hard to think that the latter won’t take priority to some degree.