The Philadelphia Phillies have unfinished business this offseason, and the list of issues is not a short one.
After taking over a club that was 9-19 under Rob Thomson, Don Mattingly steadied the ship and pushed the Phillies to a 79-55 record under his watch. Even so, the late-season stumble lingered.
Philadelphia nearly collapsed in September, then got bounced out of the Wild Card Round by the Atlanta Braves in three games. The same flaws that showed up during the regular season - inconsistent offense and a shaky bullpen - showed up again when it mattered most.
That backdrop is what makes a recent trade idea from Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report so eye-catching. He floated a blockbuster between the Phillies and Braves that would swap superstars and send shockwaves through the NL East.
In the proposed deal, Philadelphia would land 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr., while Atlanta would receive two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper and shortstop prospect Bryan Rincon.
For Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, it would be the kind of move that demands a serious look. The price is steep, especially with Rincon included, but the fit is hard to ignore.
Philadelphia’s core is another year older, and the club is coming off a disappointing season. Moving from Harper, who is now 34 years old, to Acuna, who turns 29 in December, would inject some much-needed youth into the lineup.
It would also tackle one of the biggest roster needs head-on: the outfield. And because Acuna hits right-handed, he would also help balance a lineup that needs more of that side of the plate.
The financial piece tilts in Philadelphia’s favor as well. Acuna has only $34 million in club options left on his contract, while Harper still has five years and $125 million remaining on his deal.
Of course, there’s a catch. Acuna’s injury history since winning the MVP is enough to give any front office pause.
Still, the talent is obvious, and the fit is obvious too. That’s what makes the idea so intriguing.
Even so, a trade of this size between division rivals feels like a long shot. It would set off a frenzy if it ever happened, but the odds of Acuna wearing a Phillies uniform and Harper ending up in Braves colors remain incredibly slim.
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Braves Phillies Trade Idea Would Turn This Rivalry Upside Down
A wild trade idea making the rounds would do more than shake up the NL East, it would flip one of baseballs biggest rivalries on its head. The concept has the Phillies landing Ronald Acuna Jr., which is the kind of star power that instantly changes a lineup and a fan base, while Atlanta would supposedly bring back Bryce Harper and prospect Bryan Rincon in the kind of blockbuster package that would normally live only in rumor season.
Bleacher Report floated the proposal as a speculative exercise, not as anything close to a real negotiation, and that matters here. Deals of this magnitude are already rare; between division rivals, they are even harder to imagine, especially when both clubs would be asked to part with franchise-level names and the kind of talent that anchors a roster for years. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Already Face A Tough Shortstop Trade Question
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Among the names tied to Atlanta are Otto Lopez and Jeremy Pea, with Pea standing out as the more intriguing possibility on paper. The catch is obvious enough: Houston is not in rebuild mode, so any serious push for Pea would likely come with a steep asking price, which leaves the Braves weighing fit against the cost of making a real upgrade. [Read more 🡒]