Over the past few seasons, the Philadelphia Phillies have made several strong roster moves, but there have also been clear areas where president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has come up short.
To his credit, the league has not exactly been overflowing with impact right-handed hitters. Even so, Philadelphia’s continued lack of a reliable right-handed–hitting outfielder has become a major roster issue—one that has left a noticeable gap in the lineup.
At 33–29, the Phillies still sit 8.5 games behind in the National League East. A 7–3 stretch over their last 10 games has offered a bit of encouragement, but the standings still point to the need for reinforcements.
Across Major League Baseball, there is a growing belief that Philadelphia will be active at the trade deadline, especially in its search for a right-handed outfielder. One potential target is Taylor Ward, who has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate.
As one analyst noted, right-handed outfield bats are extremely limited right now. Only a small number of the top outfield performers bat from that side, and many of the elite names are unrealistic trade options. That scarcity could make Ward a valuable commodity if he becomes available, especially for teams still trying to climb back into contention.
Ward isn’t necessarily viewed as a superstar, but he is considered an above-average hitter. He has logged 280 plate appearances this season—the most in the American League—but has managed just two home runs, a surprising dip compared to his recent power production. He hit 25 home runs in 2024 and 36 in 2025, showing much greater pop in previous years.
While the drop in home run totals may raise questions, his overall production still stands out. With a 115 OPS+, Ward remains a well-above-league-average hitter, suggesting he continues to provide solid offensive value even during a down power stretch.