The Philadelphia Phillies face some major choices this offseason — most notably whether to bring back Kyle Schwarber and how to reshape their outfield. But one superstar could address both issues at once.
According to FanSided’s Christopher Kline, that player is *. The three-time MVP grew up a Phillies fan and could either stabilize their outfield or step in as Schwarber’s replacement at designated hitter.
Kline explains: “The Philadelphia Phillies are Trout’s hometown team and the team most frequently connected to him as a hypothetical landing spot…This works out cleanly if Kyle Schwarber leaves in free agency and opens up the DH spot. The Phillies need help in the outfield and Trout is a major defensive upgrade over Nick Castellanos, but Philadelphia probably prefers to protect Trout from himself. If Schwarber leaves and Trout doesn’t need to field much at all, his bat becomes awfully intriguing as a Schwarber replacement.”
Trout hit .232/.359/.439/.797 last season with 14 doubles, 26 home runs, and 64 RBI in 130 games. While the batting average dipped, his on-base skills and power numbers still reflect a highly productive hitter — and placing him in Philadelphia’s lineup could easily boost those totals.
The main concerns are his age and contract. Trout is 34 and owed roughly $37 million per year for the next five seasons. Still, if he transitions primarily to DH and joins an elite offense, the investment could be worthwhile.
If Schwarber walks, the Phillies may want to seriously explore a trade and consider what kind of package it would take to pry Trout away from the Angels.