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The Phillies Outfield Trade Options, According To MLB Insiders
Photo Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

The Phillies Outfield Trade Options, According To MLB Insiders

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports  |  By Ben Rosen  |  Last updated 7/7/24

According to multiple MLB insiders, the Philadelphia Phillies have many trade options to help their outfield. It has been made clear that trading for an outfielder is a top priority for the Phillies. Recently Tim Kelly, of Bleacher Report named the Phillies as a team that will be active during the July 30 trade deadline. In that article, he mentioned a few players the Phillies might be considering trading for. Some of those names have been previously discussed so the new names will be the ones evaluated further. It is worth noting the Phillies were in a similar position last year and did not trade for an outfield bat.

Phillies Have Several Outfield Trade Options Near Deadline

Randy Arozarena

MLB insider Mark Feinsand mentioned Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena as a fit for the Phillies. In 86 games this season, Arozarena has a .203/.313/.362 line with 11 home runs and 29 RBI, along with a 100 wRC+ and a 94 OPS+. That is a down year by his standards, which has contributed to the Rays’ struggles. Baseball Savant ranks Arozarena in the 15th percentile in batting run value this season. To add to that, he has a -0.9 offensive value, per FanGraphs. The Rays have begun to sell in recent days. However, Arozarena does not become a free agent until 2027. He is making slightly over $8 million this year.

One concern with Arozarena is his defense. FanGraphs currently has him at -2 Defensive Runs Saved as well as being at -2 Outs Above Average this season in left field. Baseball Savant ranks Arozarena in the 21st percentile in fielding run value this season, and he has a -5.2 defensive value, per FanGraphs. While defensive ability is not the main focus the Phillies are considering to upgrade the outfield, it should be taken into consideration. However,  a Johan Rojas and Brandon Marsh platoon featuring one being used as a late-inning defensive replacement has been floated as a possibility.

Ian Happ

One candidate Kelly mentioned is Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ. In 84 games this season, Happ has a .240/.352/.446 line with 13 home runs and 52 RBI, with a 128 wRC+ and a 123 OPS+ as well. Baseball Savant ranks him in the 87th percentile in batting run value this season. According to FanGraphs, Happ has an 11.5 offensive value this season. It remains to be seen what the Cubs plan to do at the trade deadline. In addition, Happ has a large contract, making over $20 million a year. Hedoes not become a free agent until 2027. Similar to Arozarena, trading for Happ would be a more long-term commitment for the Phillies than other candidates.

Defensively, Happ has won two Gold Gloves, but that is misleading about his defensive value. This season, he currently has 3 Defensive Runs Saved to go along with -4 Outs Above Average, according to FanGraphs. Currently, Baseball Savant ranks Happ in the 12th percentile in fielding run value this season. He has a -6.7 defensive value this season according to FanGraphs. Despite having more Defensive Runs Saved in left field, Happ ranks worse in Baseball Savant fielding run value and FanGraphs defensive value than Arozarena this season. The main concern with trading for Happ is the contract.

Tommy Pham

Yahoo Sports MLB insider Russell Dorsey named Chicago White Sox outfielder Tommy Pham as a player the Phillies should trade for. In 54 games this season, Pham has a .269/.342/.370 line with four home runs and 16 RBI. He has a 105 wRC+ and a 104 OPS+ as well. Baseball Savant ranks Pham in the 74th percentile in batting run value this season. He has a -0.2 offensive value according to FanGraphs. Pham would be a rental player since he is on an expiring contract, making just over $2 million this year. However, Pham is the oldest player on this list at 36.

Like the other candidates mentioned so far, Pham is not good defensively. This season between all three outfield positions, he has -8 Defensive Runs Saved and -2 Outs Above Average per FanGraphs. Pham has played a lot in center field and right field this season, unlike Arozarena and Happ. Baseball Savant ranks Pham in the 15th percentile in fielding run value this season, and has a -4.8 defensive value according to FanGraphs. Despite having the fewest FanGraphs Defensive Runs Saved this year of the players on this list, Pham has the best FanGraphs defensive value this season.

Brent Rooker

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported the Phillies have an interest in Oakland Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker. Kelly also named Rooker as a potential Phillies trade candidate. In 76 games this season, he has a .277/.351/.540 line with 18 home runs and 54 RBI, along with a 153 wRC+ and a 155 OPS+. Baseball Savant ranks Rooker in the 92nd percentile in batting run value this season. That is the best ranking among players on this list. He has a 19.7 offensive value this season according to FanGraphs. It would take a lot to trade for Rooker because he is on a rookie contract. He also does not become a free agent until 2028.

Despite having the most upside offensively, Rooker is the worst defensively. In 62 of the 76 games Rooker has played this year, he has been the designated hitter. Having Rooker and Kyle Schwarber on the same team would not be good for the Phillies’ outfield defense. Rooker has -1 Defensive Runs Saved and is at -2 Outs Above Average in the outfield this season. Because of his limited playing time in the outfield, Rooker does not qualify for a Baseball Savant fielding run value. He has a -9.1 defensive value this season according to FanGraphs. While Rooker is the best offensively of these outfield trade options, his defensive value makes him a tough sell as the one the Phillies should pursue.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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