Phillies trade idea sends Justin Crawford, two prospects for 35-homer Twins center fielder

There have been two things the Philadelphia Phillies have been desperately searching for in recent years: a starting center fielder and a cleanup hitter.

Johan Rojas, Brandon Marsh, Harrison Bader, and now Justin Crawford have been tried out as the starting center fielder. At cleanup, the Phillies haven't gotten much production from Alec Bohm, Nick Castellanos, or J.T. Realmuto.

So, with needs at both spots, why not solve both in one trade? That's what Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report proposed the Phillies do in a trade idea that would send Crawford to the Minnesota Twins as part of a package for Byron Buxton.

Phillies trade idea lands Byron Buxton for Justin Crawford-led package

"Trade proposal: Philadelphia Phillies get CF Byron Buxton; Minnesota Twins get OF Justin Crawford, 2B Aroon Escobar, RHP Gage Wood," Rymer proposes.

This would be a blockbuster trade for the Phillies, and one they've been searching for for some time now. Buxton would be the perfect pickup for the Phillies for many reasons.

Buxton is signed through the 2028 season on a deal of around $15.1 million per-year. He's also coming off one of the best years of his career, hitting 35 home runs for the Twins at 31 years old while posting an .878 OPS with 24 steals and great defense in center field.

While landing Buxton would be an incredible get for the Phillies, as he'd slot right into the cleanup spot for the Phillies, it would come at an expensive price tag.

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Crawford is a top prospect and is set to be their starting every-day center fielder in 2026 if not for this trade idea. Escobar is another top prospect, and at 21 years old, he could be a star in the infield with all-around great skills.

Wood is also a tough player to lose, as he was their 2025 first-round pick, and at 22 years old, has shown some incredible potential with a highly graded fastball.

While these three prospects are a lot for Buxton, a player who's dealt with injury issues in his career, they would be able to keep both Andrew Painter and Aidan Miller while still adding a supremely talented player that solves their two biggest needs.

This would be a near-perfect trade for the Phillies. While it's just a trade idea, it could materialize with the Twins showing willingness to trade away their star players in recent years, including Bader and Jhoan Duran, to the Phillies at the last trade deadline.

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