The Phillies are expected to be active before the trade deadline, and one of the needs on their board is clear: a right-handed hitting outfielder.
Philadelphia is only 2.0 games behind in the NL East after clawing back from a 9-19 start, so a roster upgrade feels likely. Pitching help remains a priority, both in the rotation and at the back end of the bullpen, but the outfield is part of the conversation too. Byron Buxton and Mike Trout are not realistic options, which means the Phillies have to dig deeper into the market.
One name now linked to them is Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Phillies have included Gurriel among their possible trade targets for a right-handed hitting outfielder, alongside Angels right fielder Jo Adell.
"The Phillies have included Diamondbacks left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. among their possible trade targets for a right-handed hitting outfielder, which also includes Angels right fielder Jo Adell," Nightengale writes.
Adell has already surfaced in trade chatter this summer, but Gurriel is a newer entry on the list. Even so, his case is hard to make on performance alone.
Since coming off the injured list, the 32-year-old has struggled badly. In 167 at-bats over 45 games, Gurriel has a .216 batting average, two home runs, 20 RBIs, a .565 OPS, a 56 OPS+, and -0.5 bWAR.
The contract situation does not help his appeal either. Gurriel is in the final year of a three-year, $42 million deal that also includes a 2027 club option.
The Phillies do need right-handed outfield help, and that urgency may force them to consider a wide range of names. But based on what Gurriel has shown this season, he does not look like the cleanest fit. If Philadelphia is weighing its options, sticking with Derek Hill may be the safer path than betting on Gurriel to rediscover his form.
In Other News...
Diamondbacks Suddenly Have A Bigger Zac Gallen Problem Than Expected
Zac Gallens season took another turn before his scheduled start, when the Diamondbacks scratched him and sent him back to Arizona for imaging after the latest setback in a year that has already been uneven on the mound. Arizona has not made an official roster move yet, but Mitch Bratt was summoned from Triple-A Reno to take the ball in Gallens place, giving the club a quick fix while it waits for a clearer read on its aces status.
The bigger issue for the Diamondbacks is that this is not happening in a vacuum. Their rotation is already stretched thin with Corbin Burnes and Ryne Nelson on the 60-day injured list, and Michael Soroka still without a firm return timeline, so losing Gallen even briefly would force more patchwork innings than they can afford. It also adds another layer of concern around a pitcher whose performance has already been under the microscope, making the next step in his recovery feel especially important for a team trying to stay afloat. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Deadline Drama Suddenly Centers On One Untouchable Star
As the Diamondbacks weigh whether to sell pieces before the trade deadline, the conversation has quickly narrowed around Ketel Marte, the clubs All-Star second baseman and one of the most important bats in the lineup. Marte has been one of Arizonas steadier offensive forces this season, and his long-term presence has only become more central as the front office sorts out what kind of move, if any, makes sense in July.
Martes name has come up before in trade chatter, but his situation is now far different from a typical deadline chip. He is signed long term and has the kind of contractual control that gives him a real say in where this goes next, which makes him a difficult player to move even if Arizona wanted to listen. For a team trying to balance present urgency with future planning, that leaves the Diamondbacks in a familiar spot: exploring options around the roster while one of their best players remains firmly at the center of the discussion. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Just Sent A Strong Message With Their Day 1 Draft Haul
The first day of the 2026 MLB Draft gave the Diamondbacks a clear look at the kind of talent they wanted to stockpile, starting with catcher Ryder Helfrick at No. 15 and continuing with a run of athletic, up-the-middle players and arms. Arizona followed that by adding shortstop Carson Kerce and center fielder Brayden Dowd, a group that fits a front office looking for versatility, defensive value and room to grow.
What stood out most was the way the board came together around that profile, with scouting director Ian Rebhan pointing to the skills and upside behind each pick. The biggest swing of the day came with right-hander Blake Bryant at No. 31, a selection that underscored the clubs emphasis on projectible pitching and gave the draft class a different kind of ceiling as the rest of the weekend unfolds. [Read more 🡒]