The Philadelphia Phillies should be getting Bryce Harper back soon, which should help them pull away from the New York Mets in the National League East. However, they still have needs to address at the trade deadline.
The Phillies may be in the market for a closer and an outfielder at the deadline. Nick Castellanos has a .766 OPS, but Brandon Marsh, Max Kepler and Johan Rojas have been underwhelming this season. CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson tabbed the Phillies as a potential landing spot for 27-year-old Miami Marlins outfielder Jesús Sánchez.
“Sánchez has a lightning-fast bat and impressive raw strength, he’s just rarely leveraged those traits into better than league-average offense,” wrote Anderson. “He’s also helpless against left-handed pitching, necessitating that an acquiring team employ a competent right-handed sock, too. A club seeking upside could key in on Sánchez, who still has a few seasons left of team control after this year.”
Sánchez has two more arbitration years left. Even with his struggles against southpaws, he has a higher OPS than Kepler, Rojas and Marsh. He is slashing .243/.315/.396 with seven home runs.
He may not be the flashiest option, but he can be an upgrade for the Phillies, while not being too expensive. By not going after a superstar outfielder, the Phillies could focus their assets on acquiring a closer.
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They lose José Alvarado to a PED suspension that will make him ineligible for the postseason. Finding an adequate replacement for him may be a bigger priority than finding an outfielder. Sánchez may benefit from playing in a stronger lineup where there is less pressure on him.
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