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6 hours ago
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The Philadelphia Phillies could be looking for outfielders at the trade deadline. The team needs to find upgrades if they want to keep the New York Mets from winning the division.
Nick Castellanos is the only Phillies outfielder with an OPS+ above 100. Brandon Marsh, Max Kepler and Johan Rojas could all be replaced at the trade deadline. However, with Castellanos' contract coming to an end after next season, the Phillies could be interested in outfielders with club control.
It's unclear whether the Phillies would trade Oneil Cruz. They've reportedly refused to entertain trading Paul Skenes, but Cruz may be movable. He is under club control through 2028 and could yield a haul. He is hitting just .212, but his OPS+ is above 100. He's posted an OPS+ above 100 every season of his career.
He has a National League-best 29 stolen bases and has some serious power in his bat. He has 16 home runs and put his power on full display during the home run derby. He hit a 513-foot home run during the event. FanSided's Nick Villano predicted he would get traded and tabbed the Phillies as a landing spot.
"Cruz has the ability to push the envelope for a team, and he is just 26 years old," wrote Villano. "The Pittsburgh Pirates don’t want to be bad forever, and with Paul Skenes at the peak of his powers, some might argue the Bucs should keep Cruz, but they can turn Cruz into multiple pieces for the future. They might want to cash in now while his value is high."
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Cruz does not hit for a high average, but he is a valuable player. He could bring a new element to the Phillies' offense, but it's unclear what his asking price would be. Perhaps playing on a winning team could help him play better, given that he has some protection in the lineup.
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