The Philadelphia Phillies appear determined to make an impact before the MLB trade deadline, and upgrading the outfield has emerged as one of the club’s top priorities. With the front office searching for a right-handed bat that can add depth, experience, and balance to a lineup built for another deep postseason run, Philadelphia is casting a wide net for potential upgrades.
One intriguing name has now surfaced on the Phillies’ radar—a former All-Star who could become available if his current club changes course. While the Arizona Diamondbacks have maintained that they intend to buy rather than sell at the deadline, their plans remain fluid, leaving the door open for veteran outfielder to become a trade candidate.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Phillies are among the teams closely monitoring Gurriel’s situation as they continue exploring right-handed outfield options. If Arizona ultimately pivots toward selling, Philadelphia could have an opportunity to address one of its biggest roster needs with a low-risk move that carries considerable upside for the stretch run.
Nightengale reported that Gurriel is on Philadelphia’s list of potential targets alongside Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell. The veteran slugger, though, has struggled to regain his offensive form after beginning the season on the injured list. At the time of the report, he was batting .222 with two home runs, 20 RBIs, and a .565 OPS in 45 games.
His production has dipped even further following an 0-for-5 performance against the Dodgers, leaving him with a .211 batting average, a .259 on-base percentage, a .292 slugging percentage, and a disappointing .551 OPS.
Despite the underwhelming numbers, Gurriel still brings a proven track record. The former All-Star has demonstrated in previous seasons that he can provide timely power and experience, although his defense has been inconsistent and his tendency to chase pitches outside the strike zone has hurt his production this year. He also has yet to put together one of the prolonged hot streaks that have defined stretches of his career.
Those struggles would likely limit Arizona’s leverage in trade negotiations. Given Gurriel’s expiring contract and disappointing season, the Phillies would probably be unwilling to part with anything more than a lower-tier prospect or a modest financial return.
For the Diamondbacks, moving Gurriel would only make sense if the organization is prepared to shift into seller mode. That decision could also depend on the progress of young outfielders such as Tommy Troy and Ryan Waldschmidt, who would need to show they are capable of handling a larger role while providing consistent right-handed production.
At the moment, that scenario remains uncertain. Arizona enters the second half of the season at 49-47 after an impressive sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers just before the All-Star break. If that momentum carries over, Hazen could instead choose to add talent at the deadline and make another push for a National League Wild Card spot.
With several weeks still remaining before the trade deadline, Gurriel’s future remains far from settled. Still, Philadelphia has positioned itself as a potential destination should the Diamondbacks ultimately decide to make the veteran outfielder available.