The Philadelphia Phillies had probably the greatest stretches in baseball after they fired supervisor Rob Thomson.
Nonetheless, the magic has seemingly run out because the Commerce Deadline approaches. The Phillies have misplaced 9 of their final 12 video games and are dropping in loads of alternative ways.
First baseman Bryce Harper has publicly pleaded for exterior assist. It’s no secret that the Phillies want a right-handed outfield bat.
However with the outfield commerce market depth missing, it’s attainable the Phillies internally fill an outfield spot.
Cole Weintraub of NBC Sports activities Philadelphia got here up with an attention-grabbing concept to maneuver struggling shortstop Trea Turner to left discipline. He would platoon with Brandon Marsh, and the workforce would purchase San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez.
Why Would the Philadelphia Phillies Do This?
Turner has been one of many worst defensive shortstops in baseball this 12 months. He has already dedicated a league-high 19 errors. He has -8 Outs Above Common, in response to Baseball Savant.
This can be a surprising decline after posting +17 OAA in 2025. So, we’ve established that Turner is less than the problem of taking part in shortstop this 12 months. However why would they transfer him to the outfield?
Turner has performed 45 profession video games in heart discipline, however has not performed within the outfield since his rookie 12 months in 2016, and has by no means performed nook outfield.
As unlikely as this could be mid-season, it’s an attention-grabbing proposition.
Marsh, after main the Phillies with a .300+ common and making the All-Star Sport, has struggled immensely to start out the second half. He was displaying early within the season that he didn’t want a platoon after years of getting one.
Since then, he has come again all the way down to Earth, with a .146/.222/.220 slash line in July. Towards lefties, he’s slashing .234/.272/.374 this 12 months however has gotten worse over the past month.
Towards lefties, Turner is slashing .218/.298/.324 this 12 months. So, in principle, this wouldn’t be a very good platoon.
What Concerning the Infield?
If the Phillies have been to maneuver Turner to the outfield, what occurs to the infield?
Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott would slide over to shortstop. Stott is at the moment probably the greatest second basemen within the recreation from a defensive standpoint with a +5 OAA.
If the Phillies have been to accumulate Arraez from San Francisco, it will be a serious package deal. However it will be value it for a workforce that has struggled to discover a true contact hitter.
Arraez can be the batting champion if the season ended right this moment with a .331 common. He doesn’t stroll so much or slug for a lot energy, however he additionally doesn’t strike out and is a troublesome out usually. He additionally has improved his protection immensely with a +10 OAA, making him probably the greatest fielders in baseball.
Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto may be an possibility, however would include a hefty price ticket. That price ticket may embody Aidan Miller and/or Andrew Painter.
May assist be coming for Bryce Harper and the Phillies? We’ll see what president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has in retailer for the workforce this Commerce Deadline.
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