The National League East is shaping up to be a two-team race.
The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets have separated themselves from the pack, having at least a nine-game lead over everyone else in the division.
The Phillies were on top for the first couple of months, but a slump at the start of June opened the door for the New York Mets to enter first place.
Having a lead in the division made it easy to ignore Philadelphia’s lack of outfield production, but now that New York has emerged as a threat, it’s time for the Phillies to address their biggest weakness.
Of the four outfielders that see regular playing time for the Phillies, Nick Castellanos is the only one with at least a 100 OPS+, which is the league average.
That being said, Castellanos also ranks last at his position with -8 outs above average, so his decent offensive numbers are negated by his basement-level defense.
It’s going to be hard for the Phillies to win the NL East when their entire outfield is underperforming, but a division rival might have exactly what Philadelphia is looking for.
In an article from The Athletic, MLB insider and former GM Jim Bowden revealed that the Miami Marlins are willing to listen to trade offers for rising star Kyle Stowers.
Stowers has been the lone bright spot for a Marlins team that is once again at the bottom of the NL East standings, and he would immediately be the best outfield bat in Philadelphia’s lineup.
Stowers sports an impressive 122 OPS+, and moving to a hitter-friendly ballpark like Citizens Bank Park would only boost his numbers. With a barrel percentage that ranks in the 97th percentile, Stowers could become a true slugger for the Phillies.
The 27-year-old won’t be eligible for free agency until 2030, so swinging a trade for Stowers would be much more than a short-term solution.
It probably won’t be cheap to pry Stowers away from Miami, but the Phillies can’t stand idly by at the trade deadline if they want to capitalize on their World Series window.
