The Philadelphia Phillies extended their league-best win total, but the celebration was dampened by a concerning injury. During his first at-bat against Spencer Strider, star slugger Bryce Harper was hit by a pitch on his previously surgically-repaired elbow and had to exit the game. While initial X-rays were negative and the team diagnosed the injury as a contusion (a bruise), Harper may still miss some time.
Regardless of Harper’s status, the Phillies could be looking to add more power to their lineup as they gear up for another postseason push. In light of that, Garrett Kerman of ClutchPoints proposed a trade that would send top prospects Mick Abel, Justin Crawford, and Samuel Aldegheri to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for outfielder Taylor Ward.
“The Phillies are in win-now mode, with a strong lineup but a need for a dependable right-handed bat in the outfield,” Kerman explained. “Ward brings both versatility and power, making him a great fit for Philadelphia. He could play left field or serve as a quality fourth outfielder and DH. And the Phillies have enough prospect depth to swing a deal without severely compromising their future.”
If Harper does miss extended time, the Phillies are expected to shift Alec Bohm to first base and plug Edmundo Sosa in at third, as they did immediately after Tuesday’s incident. That would leave the outfield largely unchanged, but Harper’s absence would increase the urgency to bolster the team’s offensive firepower.
Ward, who hit 25 home runs and drove in 75 runs last season with a .246/.323/.426 slash line, is off to a strong start this year with 15 home runs—ranking third in the American League. However, parting with high-upside talent like Abel could be a difficult decision for Philadelphia. Depending on how serious Harper’s injury turns out to be, the team may choose to hold off on making such a bold move.