The Philadelphia Phillies pulled off a dramatic win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night, continuing what has been an impressive stretch of baseball. But if they want to keep pace with the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, they’re still going to need more help.
Philadelphia’s turnaround this season has been remarkable. Not long ago, the Phillies were sitting 10 games below .500, and concern around the team was growing quickly. Since the dismissal of Rob Thomson and Zack Wheeler’s return to the rotation, however, the club has looked like a completely different team.
Now, the Phillies have surged back into the playoff picture and would currently hold a wild-card spot if the season ended today. Even with that progress, though, the roster still feels somewhat top-heavy. If Philadelphia is serious about making a World Series run, adding more depth will be essential, and the trade deadline should provide that opportunity.
When it comes to areas that need the most attention, a few stand out. Still, the outfield may be the clearest priority.
Phillies Have Clear Outfield Need
Even before Adolis Garcia went down with a season-ending injury, the Phillies already had reason to look for help in the outfield. Garcia had not been producing at the level the team needed, and bringing in another bat was already becoming a realistic consideration.
Brandon Marsh has been excellent for Philadelphia this season, but the production from the other two outfield spots has fallen short offensively. On top of that, J.T. Realmuto and Trea Turner have not consistently played up to expectations, which has at times left the Phillies’ lineup looking far too thin.
As Philadelphia evaluates ways to improve, the outfield stands out as the most obvious area to address. Ideally, the Phillies would also like to add a right-handed hitter to create better balance in the lineup. So far, Marsh, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper have done most of the heavy lifting offensively.
There should be a few potential targets available, even this early. Because Philadelphia’s farm system is not among the strongest, a blockbuster move feels somewhat unlikely. Still, adding a rental option like Taylor Ward could be a logical move and a meaningful boost for the roster.
Phillies and Blue Jays could make easy $150M trade to solve two issues
The Philadelphia Phillies’ need at the trade deadline is no secret. If they make a move, the expectation is that they’ll target a right-handed-hitting outfielder.
The bigger question is who they’ll actually go after, because there aren’t many obvious fits on the market. One recently suggested name, though, would make for a fascinating possibility: George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays.
“Springer has pedigree — he’s won World Series MVP, has four All-Star nods and three Silver Sluggers,” Evan Macy wrote.
“He’s also about to come off the books from the struggling defending AL champs. But he’s having his worst offensive season as a pro, hitting just .215 through 51 games. Perhaps he’s a candidate for a change of scenery?”
Springer, a four-time All-Star, World Series MVP, and three-time Silver Slugger winner, is no longer the same player he once was at 36 years old.
Still, there are a few reasons why the idea is worth considering. Springer has ties to the Northeast after growing up in Connecticut, attending Avon Old Farms School, and later playing at the University of Connecticut.
A move closer to home could be appealing, and if the Phillies believe they could help Springer rediscover the form that made him one of the game’s most dangerous outfielders, it would make for a very intriguing deadline gamble.