The Philadelphia Phillies are in need of an outfielder, and a young, talented one may be available. Could they swing a blockbuster trade to better their World Series chances?
According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, the Pittsburgh Pirates may be open to trading Oneil Cruz. He noted in a recent story that only Paul Skenes and veteran Andrew McCutchen are off limits. The Phillies could use Cruz to solve their outfield woes.
Nick Castellanos has been the Phillies' most consistent outfielder. Brandon Marsh is starting to swing the bat better, which is great for the team. However, Max Kepler and Johan Rojas could be easily replaced with upgrades. BALLCAP Sports' Jim Riley proposed this trade to bring Cruz to Philadelphia:
- Phillies receive: outfielder Oneil Cruz
- Pirates receive: pitcher Mick Abel (Phillies No. 5 prospect), second baseman/third baseman Aroon Escobar (Phillies No. 13 prospect) and outfielder Dylan Campbell (Phillies No. 30 prospect)
The Phillies have already seen Abel succeed as a big league pitcher. However, he may not have a clear role in helping them this year when their rotation is healthy. Additionally, the team may be open to trading him with Andrew Painter in the minor leagues.
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Cruz is not having a great year at the plate. However, his OPS is still higher than Kepler's and Rojas's. He slashed .259/.324/.449 with 21 home runs and 22 stolen bases. A change of scenery could do him some good. Also, playing in a lineup with other stars and winning aspirations could unlock his full potential.
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