The Phillies have climbed from a 9-19 start to 53-43, and that kind of recovery has them sitting just two games back of the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East. But if Philadelphia wants to turn a strong run into a real World Series push, the roster still has some obvious holes.
The biggest needs are easy to spot. The pitching staff could use help both in the rotation and in the bullpen, and the outfield has been thinned out with Adolis Garcia out for the year because of a lat injury. With the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaching, the speculation is only getting louder.
That’s where ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan comes in. If the Phillies are going to swing big, his “dream match” is Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton.
Buxton, 32, is in the middle of another big season. He has made the All-Star team three times, including this year, though he will not play because of a hip strain. In 75 games, he is hitting .271 with a .904 OPS, along with 45 RBIs and 25 home runs.
The fit is obvious on offense. Buxton bats right-handed, and that matters for a Phillies lineup that leans on left-handed hitters like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh. Philadelphia has also struggled against left-handed pitching, hitting just .224 with a .671 OPS in those matchups.
He would bring value with the glove, too. Buxton won a Gold Glove in 2017, while the Phillies have rookie Justin Crawford starting in center field. Crawford has missed the last two games with a knee injury and is batting .263 with 21 RBIs in 88 games.
Still, the idea of Buxton landing in Philadelphia looks like a long shot. Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll said a couple of weeks ago that a deal involving Buxton is not on the table, according to MLB.com.
“We have no plans to trade Byron,” Zoll said. “It’s not something we’re exploring.
It’s not something we plan to explore. We continue to have productive discussions with Byron.
I think he was very clear on that point last week. But also just from my seat, from the Twins’ perspective, that’s not something that we plan to explore.
Just wanted to hit that head on.”
Buxton also has a no-trade clause and reportedly is not interested in waiving it. He has two years left on his contract at a little more than $15.1 million per year.
The Twins are 47-49 and sit third in the American League Central.
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