Breaking: Philadelphia Phillies Confirm Three Stars To Be Traded Ahead Of Deadline

Breaking: Philadelphia Phillies Confirm Three Stars To Be Traded Ahead Of Deadline

This season, the Philadelphia Phillies, a team better recognized for its postseason accomplishments than for its regular-season victory totals, have turned the tables. Philadelphia leads the NL East by nine games with 46 victories, the most in the entire National League.

However, as the Phillies aim to win their first World Series since 2008, there is still opportunity for growth even with this scorching start. The Phillies should pursue these three early MLB trade deadline targets.

Right field

Nick Castellanos ended with 26 home runs and a career-high 106 RBIs in 2023 despite having a difficult second half of the season. He also garnered MVP votes. That bad start to the second part of the 2024 program has persisted. The right fielder for the Phillies is hitting just.214 and has an OPS of.630, both much below his career norms. Even though he batted.229 in May, it was still an almost 20-point increase in average.

For the past several seasons, Castellanos has also often ranked among the poorest fielders and base runners. The 32-year-old has cost Philadelphia seven runs defensively and two runs on the basepaths so far in 2024, which ties for the fewest in the league. It is simple to understand why Castellanos has a -0.2 WAR through 68 games played when you include in the negative six runs he has contributed at the plate.

Center field

Philadelphia’s only other position with a negative WAR this season is center field, aside from right field. The main center fielder for the Phillies this season, Johan Rojas, has started 54 games. The speedster has contributed nothing more to the team, with an OPS of.564 and only marginally above-average defense, despite having 14 stolen bases this year. Philadelphia will become the favorite in the World Series if they add another hitter to the outfield.

Phillies trade targets

Tommy Pham (OF), Chicago White Sox

Tommy Pham is the best choice for the Phillies if they’re looking for a steady, reasonably priced outfield option. Throughout his career, Pham has shown above-average ability to get on base and has been a danger to achieve 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season. Prior to going on the injured list due to an ankle injury this season, Pham’s anticipated batting average and average exit velocity were in the 90th and 81st percentiles, respectively.

Returned from a rehab assignment, Tommy Pham would be a perfect low-cost outfield acquisition for the Phillies, or any team hoping to win the World Series.

Lane Thomas (OF), Washington Nationals

With 73 stolen bases this season, enough for fourth in the MLB, the Phillies have been among the league’s most adventurous teams on the basepaths. By adding outfielder Lane Thomas of the Nationals, the club might capitalize even further on that strength. After returning off the injured list, the 28-year-old has significantly improved at the plate, hitting.280 with an OPS of.800 over his previous 17 games. He has already accumulated 16 stolen bases in just 38 games this season. Another piece of equipment for a formidable Phillies offense would be Lane Thomas.