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11 hours ago
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The Philadelphia Phillies are facing a crucial season with the championship window for their core of stars closing sooner rather than later.
The team is projected for a $284 million payroll this year, with at least $20 million going to the likes of Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler. Next season might be the final one to capitalize on their talents before age begins taking a more significant toll.
As a result, fans might have hoped for some more impactful additions to the roster at this point in the offseason. But even if the team enters opening day with its current roster as constructed, Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report predicted the Phillies would swing a blockbuster addition at the next trade deadline.
“The projected Opening Day lineup for the Phillies right now includes five left-handed hitters in (Max) Kepler, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh,” Kelly noted. “Perhaps a player like Weston Wilson will emerge as a legitimate platoon option in the outfield, but it feels right now like the Phillies need another right-handed bat for when they inevitably end up in big games against tough lefties like Chris Sale, Sean Manaea and Blake Snell.”
With that in mind, Kelly predicted that the Phillies would trade for outfielder Taylor Ward from the Los Angeles Angels.
“Taylor Ward would make sense for the Phillies considering he’s coming off a season with the Angels where he hit .325 with an .873 OPS against left-handed pitching,” Kelly added. “He could be a platoon partner in left field with Kepler. He could also seize the left field job altogether if Kepler struggles and/or isn’t healthy.”
In addition to his success against lefties in 2024, Ward slugged 25 homers and racked up 75 RBI, making it his most successful season to date. And he’s owed just $7.8 million in 2025 with another year of arbitration eligibility ahead, with Spotrac projecting a $43.7 million market value for him.
Given his defensive position, prowess against left-handed pitching and financial controllability, Ward seems like an ideal fit for a Phillies team that could be on the lookout to pad its playoff roster before it’s too late.
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Peter Chawaga is a veteran journalist covering Major League Baseball for The Sporting News. His MLB reporting has included feature interviews with commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame slugger David Ortiz, salary analysis, player rankings and more. He has covered baseball for Forbes, Yardbarker, Pitcher List, Athlon and other outlets.
With over ten years of newsroom experience, he has previously covered finance, technology, arts, and culture for newspapers, magazines, and websites nationwide. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in English and journalism.
English (US)