The Philadelphia Phillies have pulled off an impressive turnaround after a disastrous start to the season that saw them open with a 9-19 record and part ways with then-manager Rob Thomson.
Following Thomson’s departure, veteran skipper Don Mattingly — who previously managed the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins — took over and helped spark a resurgence. Philadelphia has since improved to 53-43 and sits only two games behind the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East standings.
Despite the turnaround, the Phillies still have noticeable holes to address if they hope to seriously contend for their first World Series title since 2008. The team could benefit from upgrades to both its starting rotation and bullpen, while the season-ending lat injury suffered by Adolis Garcia has created a need for additional outfield depth.
With the MLB trade deadline set for Aug. 3, speculation around potential moves has intensified. While it remains uncertain whether Philadelphia has enough trade assets to complete a major deal, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan believes one potential acquisition would represent a perfect scenario: Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton.
Byron Buxton Would Be a Major Upgrade for Phillies
Buxton, 32, has been selected to three All-Star Games, including this season, although he will miss the event because of a hip strain. The veteran outfielder has enjoyed a strong campaign, hitting .271 with an impressive .904 OPS while producing 45 RBIs and 25 home runs across 75 games.
Adding Buxton would also address a major offensive imbalance for Philadelphia. As a right-handed hitter, he would provide much-needed production against left-handed pitching. The Phillies already feature dangerous left-handed bats like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Brandon Marsh, but the lineup has struggled against southpaws, posting a .224 batting average and a .671 OPS in those matchups.
Buxton would also bring defensive stability to center field. He won a Gold Glove Award in 2017 and remains one of the more talented defensive outfielders in baseball. Philadelphia currently has rookie Justin Crawford handling center-field duties, but he has missed the team’s last two games with a knee injury. Crawford has hit .263 this season, though his offensive production has been limited, with only 21 RBIs in 88 games.
However, Phillies supporters may not want to get too excited about the possibility of Buxton arriving in Philadelphia. Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll recently made it clear that Minnesota has no intention of moving the veteran outfielder, according to MLB.com.
“We have no plans to trade Byron,” Zoll said. “It’s not something we’re exploring. It’s not something we plan to explore. We continue to have productive discussions with Byron. I think he was very clear on that point last week. But also just from my seat, from the Twins’ perspective, that’s not something that we plan to explore. Just wanted to hit that head on.”
Buxton’s contract situation also makes a trade more complicated. He has a no-trade clause and reportedly has no interest in waiving it. The outfielder is under contract for two more seasons at a salary slightly above $15.1 million per year.
The Twins currently sit at 47-49 and are third in the American League Central, but despite their position, Minnesota appears committed to keeping Buxton as part of its future plans.