MLB trade rumors: Phillies a potential suitor for Diamondbacks’ hard-hitting outfielder?
The Phillies have already been active in the trade market, and one MLB insider thinks general manager Matt Klentak isn’t done just yet.
As the Fightins push to make the postseason, Jon Morosi believes they are eyeing an outfielder who could help in the field, as well as at the plate, ahead of the Aug. 31 trade deadline:
The Diamondbacks’ Starling Marte.
Here’s what Morosi had to say Tuesday on MLB Network:
I really think you look at Marte’s trade market, it’s maybe not a very robust one, from the standpoint of the number of teams looking for a centerfielder. But I would say the Philadelphia Phillies right now – already active so far, they’ve had Roman Quinn playing centerfield – I think Marte could be a really nice fit there in Philadelphia. Of course they have the club option next year, so it’s not just a rental situation.
The mention of Quinn in centerfield, where he’s been inconsistent defensively, certainly puts a little more intention behind a potential Marte trade.
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury gave this evaluation of Quinn’s play in center field this year:
So far this season, we’ve seen Roman Quinn make a couple of costly misplays in center field. By the same token, Quinn came up huge Sunday night in Atlanta when the Phils were on the brink of blowing a ninth-inning lead. He got to a ball in the gap in a flash, made a clean pickup, a tight plant with his back foot and fired a strike to Didi Gregorius who in turn fired a two-hop strike to catcher Andrew Knapp.
Not terrible, but not gleaming. Marte is a two-time Gold Glove fielder, though he hasn’t posted a positive dWAR since 2018. Still, the pedigree is there.
Offensively, Marte is slashing .317/.397/.446 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 28 games this year with Arizona. His home run numbers cetainly aren’t on pace to match his last two years, in which he 43 long balls combined, but his current .397 OBP is the highest of his career, something that would certainly be welcome in the Phillies’ lineup.
Marte, 31, is signed through this year, with a team option for next season, and is slated to make $11.5 million this year and $12.5 million on the team option next year.
Does it make sense? Marte is absolutely a solid player, and the idea of having him for a stretch run this season, with the option to bring him back next year if things work out, is enticing. Quinn isn’t lighting it up defensively, and Marte would be a definite upgrade at the plate.
The only hesitation is giving up too much, asset-wise, on a guy on the wrong side of 30, who you might not want to bring back at the end of this already-odd-and-shortened season.
As of Tuesday, the Phillies have a 42.9% chance of making the playoffs, according to Fangraphs. If the front office feels they can make a run? Sure, take a run at Marte.
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