The Philadelphia Phillies still deserve their spot on the exclusive list of National League contenders.
Based on how they’ve played early in the season, the Phillies still look like a threat to dethrone the Los Angeles Dodgers as NL champions. But there’s one glaring hole in their lineup that could still stop them from getting there.
Center field has long been a concern for the Phillies, and it’s been exacerbated in 2024. Phillies center fielders rank 26th in Major League Baseball with 0.0 fWAR. They’ve only hit two home runs and share a combined on-base percentage of .300.
That’s due for a change if the Phillies want to be taken seriously as World Series contenders. Fortunately, one MLB insider has an idea for the Phillies to mitigate that concern.
On Monday, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi named the Phillies a top trade fit for Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins, who is making $8.7 million this season ahead of free agency this winter.
“I think right now, Cedric Mullins is on the short list of potential impact position players moved at the deadline unless Orioles go on some kind of amazing run,” Morosi said. “You think about the Phillies being a tremendous fit for him.”
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Mullins, 30, has a more-than-respectable .775 OPS/124 OPS+ through his first 37 games this season. He might not reach his All-Star heights from 2021, but he’s proving to be a reliable 3-WAR player at this stage of his career.
The Phillies could use Brandon Marsh in more of a platoon capacity by acquiring Mullins, or they could trade him to try and improve the bullpen. And sure, Mullins is a rental, but the Phillies are all-in on 2025, so that’s of no concern.
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