The Philadelphia Phillies are riding a strong surge and have nearly battled their way back to the .500 mark, though there are still a few clear areas where upgrades would help.
After a rough 9–19 start to the season, the Phillies have gone 12–4 over their last 16 games. That stretch includes five straight series wins, and they’ll look to make it six this weekend against their in-state rivals, the Pittsburgh Pirates.
A major reason for the turnaround has been the return of ace Zack Wheeler. Since coming off the injured list, the Phillies have won every game he has started. Paired with Cristopher Sánchez, Wheeler has helped give Philadelphia one of the most effective one-two combinations in baseball once again.
The offense has also shown improvement. Kyle Schwarber has been red-hot, helping spark the lineup during this winning stretch. Still, even with better production, the Phillies could use another impact bat—especially in the outfield. One player who would make a lot of sense is Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton.
Why Buxton Makes Sense
It’s rare when a player checks nearly every box for a team, but Buxton fits the Phillies’ needs extremely well. Philadelphia is looking for offensive help from the outfield and a right-handed presence in the middle of the lineup, and Buxton provides both. With the Twins struggling and in rebuild mode, it’s somewhat surprising he hasn’t already been moved, but his name is sure to come up as the trade deadline approaches.
This season, Buxton is slashing .260/.319/.580 with 15 home runs and 23 RBIs. While his talent is unquestioned, durability has always been the biggest concern. At 32 years old, that risk still exists, but his impact would be immediate if healthy.
Buxton also has two years remaining on his contract at a very reasonable $15 million per season given his production. After already making a deal with Minnesota last year to acquire closer Jhoan Duran, the Phillies should strongly consider circling back and aggressively pursuing Buxton this summer.