Why Phillies' beloved outfielder could be traded to Astros for perfect deal originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Phillies are scouring the free agent and offseason market for upgrades to the roster, especially in the outfield. Nick Castellanos is all but gone, and Justin Crawford is likely to secure a spot on the MLB roster in 2026.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut, outside of Crawford, only Brandon Marsh and a few rotational players are options for the Phillies in the outfield. Adding another outfielder, especially in center field, is a priority.
Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic report that the Phillies are looking for a center fielder. But this mention came amid trade rumors with a Houston Astros center fielder, and a swap with the Phillies for Marsh would be a perfect deal for both teams.
Phillies could swing trade with Astros that fits both teams' outfield needs
"The Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets and Rays are among the teams exploring upgrades in center field, along with the Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks and Kansas City Royals." Woo and Rosenthal write.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Phillies are looking for center fielder upgrades, and the Astros' center fielder, Jake Meyers, is a player that Houston is considering moving.
"The Astros are open to moving him for a controllable major-league starter, according to people briefed on their discussions," Woo and Rosenthal report.
While this report doesn't indicate the Astros are looking for an outfielder, Houston is looking for a left-handed hitter, and Marsh, a lefty, would be a good option for the Astros to replace Meyers in the outfield.
Meyers is a right-handed hitter who is coming off a strong .292 average, .727 OPS season with Houston. Marsh had a .280 average with a .785 OPS.
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While Marsh is the better hitter and isn't a bad fielder, Meyers could be a right-handed hitting option for the Phillies in the outfield - something Dave Dombrowski has been searching for.
While a 1-1 trade of Marsh for Meyers might not go through, they could be the centerpiece of a trade. Meyers will be 30 years old in 2026, while Marsh will be 28 years old. Both will also be free agents after 2027.
A swap of these outfielders would benefit both teams, though there would likely be more involved in this trade, as the Phillies wouldn't accept this 1-1 swap.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut it's a starting point, and with both teams likely interested in the other, Marsh and Meyers could be the basis of a bigger trade to improve both rosters.
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