If Sunday’s events taught us anything, it’s that trade deadline season has already begun around Major League Baseball.
Of course, the Philadelphia Phillies weren’t involved in the trade that sent Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, as far as any reports have indicated. But now that they’ve seen a fellow National League contender bolster their offense, they will surely try to respond.
There’s not another Devers-type bat that projects to be available, but the Phillies could still find some additional left-handed thump. And the outfield is their best bet to do so, as they haven’t gotten much offensively from any of their three positions out there.
In a recent YouTube video, Jim Riley of BALLCAP Sports predicted the Phillies would acquire Baltimore center fielder Cedric Mullins, who is on an expiring $8.7 million salary for a last-place team, to bolster their outfield before the Jul. 31 deadline.
“I need a (Brandon) Marsh upgrade. I need more from an offensive perspective, and I need to keep my defense,” Riley said. “I know the Phillies are lefty-heavy, but when we look at the talent that’s available, the top tiers of the hitter market for this deadline, most of them are lefties.
“Even though you might like to get a righty, getting Mullins wouldn’t make them more left-handed, because again, you’d be taking over for Marsh.”
Marsh is a fan favorite in Philadelphia, and he’s under contract for two more years than Mullins. But Mullins has been the superior hitter this year, putting up a 123 OPS+ in comparison to Marsh’s 95.
It would be a risk to ruffle feathers in the clubhouse by swapping in Mullins for Marsh, especially if the latter is headed back to Baltimore in the deal. But this might be the year the Phillies decide to roll the dice on messing up their chemistry.
