Byron Buxton may be the dream name for Phillies fans looking at the trade market, but the odds of that happening are close to zero. The Minnesota Twins star has been tied to Philadelphia in speculation because the Phillies need a right-handed bat in the outfield, yet Buxton’s stance has been consistent: he is staying put.
The three-time All-Star and Platinum Glove Award winner remains committed to the club that drafted him in 2012, and he has made it clear again and again that he won’t waive his no-trade clause. Still, the questions keep coming, mostly because his name naturally fuels rumors.
If the Phillies are shopping for a more realistic fit, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden pointed to a different outfielder: Kansas City Royals veteran Lane Thomas.
"The Phillies have been looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder, and Thomas would be a perfect match. He can play all three outfield positions and, more importantly, rakes against left-handed pitching," Bowden wrote.
Thomas is heading toward free agency and has carved out a long, steady major league career. He has never finished a season with more than 100 games played and an OPS above .783, but his power has been useful - 20 homers per 162 games is nothing to sneeze at.
Bowden also noted Thomas’ work against lefties, writing, "Through Wednesday, he had a career .289/.360/.498 line with 28 homers over 806 plate appearances versus lefties," and adding, "In general, he’s done a solid job getting on base this season, with a .337 OBP."
So no, Thomas isn’t Byron Buxton. Very few players are. But for a Phillies team searching for a right-handed outfield answer, he looks like the far more plausible target.
In Other News...
Phillies Just Got A Troubling Pitching Update Before The Deadline
The Phillies have spent much of the summer trying to patch together a roster that has been tested by injuries on the right side of the outfield and by some uneven pitching behind the front of the rotation. With the deadline approaching, the conversation inside the organization has only sharpened around how much help the staff actually has in reserve, especially when it comes to finding reliable innings beyond the starters who are already carrying the load.
Alex McFarlane and Gage Wood are part of the systems long-term picture, but neither is viewed as a quick fix for the kind of late-game pressure the Phillies need to solve right now. Wood is still being developed as a starter, while McFarlane remains a work in progress, which leaves the front office staring at a familiar deadline question: whether the answer has to come from outside the organization rather than from a prospect breakthrough at home. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Linked To Francisco Lindor In Trade Idea Mets Fans Need To See
With the trade deadline approaching, the Phillies are still searching for ways to sharpen a roster built to win now, with pitching and bullpen help sitting near the top of the list. A recent hypothetical idea put Francisco Lindor into the conversation, which is enough to get attention around the league, but it also comes with an obvious question for Philadelphia: where exactly would he fit on a team that already has Trea Turner locked in long term?
Lindors production this season has not exactly made the case for a major reshuffle, and the Phillies have reason to be cautious about forcing a move just because a big name is available. For all the intrigue attached to a star shortstop, the cleaner path may be to use the deadline to add a more natural fit, with an outfielder on an expiring contract looking like the kind of upgrade that would make more sense for what this roster actually needs. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Linked To A Trade Idea That Would Frustrate Fans Fast
The latest trade chatter around the Phillies has a familiar kind of frustration attached to it, because it asks them to chase help at a spot that already looks occupied. Bleacher Reports Zachary D. Rymer floated a deal that would send two pitching prospects to Minnesota in exchange for a catcher, but Philadelphias current setup makes the idea feel more like a detour than a solution. J.T. Realmuto is healthy and still entrenched as the starter, while the broader roster picture points elsewhere for upgrades.
Catcher has become a depth conversation in Philadelphia more than a true need, especially with Rafael Marchan sidelined for a while and Garrett Stubbs not viewed as a reliable emergency starter. Even so, the Phillies front office has more pressing holes to address, particularly in the search for a right-handed slugger and outfield help, which is why a move like this would likely test fans patience fast. The market may exist for a catcher, but for the Phillies, the fit looks awfully hard to justify. [Read more 🡒]