Matt Johnson
Things looked bleak for the Philadelphia Phillies early this season, with the team sitting at 9-19 in late April. After tying for the second-most wins in May with 18, the team has generated buzz about what Philadelphia will be looking for at the MLB trade deadline.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported over the weekend that Philadelphia “will be on the lookout” for a right-handed hitter this summer. While Mike Trout won’t be the one joining the Phillies lineup later this year, there should be plenty of options for the club to improve.
Run production has still been an issue for the club as of late. According to FanGraphs, the Phillies lineup ranked 22nd in runs scored (112), 23rd in OPS (.667), and 29th in OBP (.281) across the month of May. The club’s winning record was largely because of a pitching staff that posted a 3.19 ERA.
One of the most glaring weaknesses in the Phillies lineup is outfielder Adolis Garcia. Entering MLB games today, the right fielder sports a .191/.274/.296 triple-slash line with a .571 OPS, four home runs, and 15 RBIs across 199 at-bats. From April 18 through May 31, Garcia posted a .174/.255/.258 triple-slash line with a 33.6 percent strikeout rate and a .513 OPS.
Fortunately for Philadelphia, there should be plenty of sellers at the MLB trade deadline. However, the options could be a bit more limited in regard to quality right fielders available. Sellers like the Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels, and Kansas City Royals do not have a veteran corner outfielder with a .700-plus OPS in an everyday role.
That will certainly complicate things for Philadelphia. With that said, third baseman Alec Bohm (.210/.271/.335) and second baseman Bryson Stott (.217/.264/.380) are playing below replacement level this season. Finding a better hitter for one of those infield spots and simply finding someone who can get on base more consistently than Garcia might be the Phillies’ best option to improve this summer.
