ESPN.com insiders Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel named intriguing trade fits for the Philadelphia Phillies. Passan and McDaniel mentioned relief pitchers and outfielders as fits for the Phillies. Pete Fairbanks of the Tampa Bay Rays is considered a fit, while Passan and McDaniel estimate a 60% chance that he will be traded. Additional relief pitchers are also called as fits for the Phillies by Passan and McDaniel. There has been a lot of conversation about what relief pitcher or pitchers the Phillies might trade for. However, there has not been as much conversation about trade candidates for the Phillies’ outfield.
Passan and McDaniel mention Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. as a fit for the Phillies. Robert has a 90% chance of being traded, according to Passan and McDaniel. Cedric Mullins of the Baltimore Orioles is also named a fit for the Phillies by Passan and McDaniel. Mullins has a 70% chance of being traded, according to Passan and McDaniel. Robert or Mullins could very well be traded to the Phillies. With that being said, Passan and McDaniel mentioned players who would be better fits for the Phillies. It remains to be seen if the Phillies will make a move to upgrade the outfield.
Intriguing Outfield Trade Fits For The Phillies
Taylor Ward (Los Angeles Angels)
Ward has a 45% chance of being traded, according to Passan and McDaniel. This season, Ward has a .210/.279/.464 line with 19 home runs and 53 RBI in 76 games. Ward has a 101 wRC+ and a .220 BABIP this season. To add, Ward has a .317 wOBA and a 0.34 BB/K rate this year. Ward has a career-best 13.8% barrel rate this season. According to Baseball Savant, Ward ranks in the 84th percentile in barrel rate this season. Furthermore, Ward has a career-best 17.0% HR/FB rate this season.
Ward is under team control through the 2026 season. Additionally, Ward has experience at all three outfield positions. This season, Ward has -3 Defensive Runs Saved, 0 Outs Above Average, as well as a -1 Fielding Run Value in left field. 2022 was the last time Ward played an outfield position other than left field. Ward is having one of the best power seasons of his career. While some defensive alignment adjustments would need to be made, adding Ward would be a good move for the Phillies.
Adolis García (Texas Rangers)
García has an 80% chance of being traded, according to Passan and McDaniel. This season García has a .233/.285/.401 line with nine home runs and 37 RBI in 74 games. García has a 90 wRC+ and a .278 BABIP this season. To add to that, García has a .298 wOBA and a 0.25 BB/K rate this year. García has a career-best 51.0% HardHit rate this season. Baseball Savant ranks García in the 88th percentile for Hard-Hit% this season. However, García has an 8.7% HR/FB rate, which is his worst in a season with at least 200 plate appearances.
García is also under team control through the 2026 season. Defensively, García would improve the Phillies’ outfield defense. García has exclusively played right field over the last two seasons, but also has experience in left field and center field. This season, García has 10 Defensive Runs Saved, 2 Outs Above Average, and a 1 Fielding Run Value in right field. While García is having a down year at the plate, his defensive ability and past offensive success make him an intriguing trade fit for the Phillies.
Main Photo Credits: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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