After nearly ten years without a playoff appearance, the Philadelphia Phillies have successfully made it to the postseason for three consecutive years. With key players like Bryce Harper and Aaron Nola leading the way, they’ve given fans plenty to celebrate each October.
However, despite this progress, the Phillies seem to be heading in the wrong direction. They went from being World Series finalists in 2022 to losing in the NLCS in 2023, and now facing an early exit in the NLDS in 2024. Given that they have retained almost the same core group over the past two seasons, it’s clear that their current approach isn’t yielding the desired results.
Consequently, a major roster overhaul may be necessary to get the team back on track and help them finally secure the elusive World Series title. With that in mind, let’s examine four Phillies players who are most likely to be traded this offseason to aid in this effort.
4 Phillies players most likely to be traded this offseason
Brandon Marsh
Brandon Marsh was acquired by the Phillies from the Los Angeles Angels during the 2022 trade deadline and has mostly been a key player in their lineup since then. He has provided solid defense, accumulating 7 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and committing 10 errors, resulting in a .983 fielding percentage over the past three seasons. Offensively, he has contributed from the lower part of the batting order, averaging double-digit home runs and 60 RBIs each of the last two years.
However, his defensive skills don’t match the elite level of Johan Rojas, and his offensive output isn’t as impressive as that of Nick Castellanos. More importantly, Marsh has continued to struggle against left-handed pitching, a trend that has persisted throughout his MLB career. In 2024, he posted a dismal .192 batting average with a .552 OPS and an alarming 33 strikeouts in 78 at-bats, making him more suited to a platoon role.
Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer notes that with Marsh’s career strikeout rate at 32.8 percent and the Phillies’ left field position producing subpar offense this season (a .710 OPS, tied for 15th in the majors), trading Marsh for a more offensively focused outfielder could address the team’s needs.
With major free agents, including star player Juan Soto, set to hit the market this offseason, the Phillies have a significant chance to enhance their outfield and secure a potential long-term solution. This move could render Marsh expendable and leave him without a role in 2025.
Alec Bohm
Third baseman Alec Bohm has made significant progress in his game over the past couple of seasons, becoming a crucial part of the Phillies’ offense. Following his breakout year in 2022, Bohm has posted consecutive seasons with over 15 home runs and 95 RBIs in both 2023 and 2024. He even earned his first All-Star selection this past season, establishing himself as one of the team’s top run producers during the regular season.
However, his performance in the playoffs has not met expectations. In three postseason appearances with the Phillies, Bohm has managed only a .214 batting average, .629 OPS, 11 runs scored, two home runs, and 14 RBIs across 34 playoff games.
His struggles were particularly evident during the 2024 NLDS against the New York Mets, where he recorded just one hit in 14 plate appearances, contributing to the Phillies’ early playoff exit.
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report identified Bohm as a primary candidate for trade this offseason, citing his disappointing second half of 2024 after an All-Star first half and his occasional emotional outbursts as reasons that might lead to his departure from Philadelphia. Rymer mentioned potential trade destinations, including the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and Seattle Mariners.
Additionally, Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report noted that the Phillies could target prominent free agent third baseman Alex Bregman in the upcoming offseason. If this occurs, it would effectively eliminate Bohm’s role on the team, as Bryce Harper is firmly positioned at first base and Kyle Schwarber occupies the designated hitter role. Overall, it seems Bohm is the leading candidate to be traded by the Phillies this offseason.
Austin Hays
Austin Hays, one of the Phillies’ key acquisitions at the trade deadline this past season, ultimately proved to be a significant disappointment. His performance may have been different had he been healthy, but a strained hamstring and a kidney infection sidelined him for most of the final two months of the season.
In total, Hays participated in only 22 games, posting a .256 batting average and .672 OPS with eight runs, five doubles, two home runs, six RBIs, and two stolen bases across 80 plate appearances. With the hope that he could make an impact during the playoffs, he managed to appear in just two games, striking out three times in four at-bats.
As a result, the Phillies’ gamble on Hays, especially compared to other more prominent options available, turned out to be a total bust.
Regarding Hays’ future with the team, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski offered some insight during his end-of-season press conference, saying, “We have Hays, of course, we’ll have to make a decision in that regard,” while discussing the outfield options for the upcoming year.
That decision will likely hinge on whether the Phillies choose to non-tender or trade Hays this offseason. Although there’s a slim chance they could offer him a contract to see what he can do next season, it seems unlikely given his arbitration eligibility, which comes with a substantial price tag of over $6 million for the final year.
Given his underwhelming performance for the Phillies, it would be difficult for fans to accept if he were to remain with the team heading into the 2025 season.
Bryson Stott
After a breakout season in 2023, expectations were high for second baseman Bryson Stott to continue improving in 2024. Unfortunately, Stott experienced a regression, finishing the season with a .245 batting average, .671 OPS, and 89 OPS+ over 148 games. He recorded 19 doubles, 11 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases, but his overall performance was disappointing.
Stott’s struggles extended into the postseason, where he has not been able to contribute effectively for the Phillies. In 33 playoff games, he has managed just a .188 batting average and a .565 OPS, tallying nine runs, five doubles, one triple, one home run, and 14 RBIs while striking out 30 times in 101 at-bats. This year was no exception, as he only collected two hits in 13 plate appearances during the 2024 postseason.
Zachary D. Rymer from Bleacher Report suggested that Stott should be a trade candidate for the Phillies, especially given his underwhelming performance in 2024. With top prospect Aidan Miller making significant progress in the minors, the Phillies might envision a future middle infield of Miller and Trea Turner, potentially shifting Turner to second base in the near future. Rymer also noted that trading Stott could yield valuable prospects in return.
Additionally, Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report mentioned that the Phillies might seek bullpen upgrades this offseason, particularly with Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman set to become free agents. A potential trade for St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley could involve Stott as a key piece of the package.
Regardless of the specifics, if the Phillies decide to pursue major trades this offseason, both Bohm and Stott could play pivotal roles in those discussions.
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