The Phillies are still in the thick of the National League East race, sitting two games behind the Braves entering play on July 8, but their recent trip to Kansas City showed why another bat keeps coming up in the conversation.
Philadelphia took only one of three from the Royals at Kauffman Stadium, and the two losses came with just three runs scored combined. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber still anchor a lineup that can do damage, but the offense could use another threat as the trade deadline approaches on Aug. 3.
That’s where Jung Hoo Lee enters the picture. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan listed the Giants outfielder as a possible fit for the Phillies, noting that he has a 50% chance of being traded and calling him an ascendent player who may be a little underrated as a hitter.
“The 27-year-old is top five in MLB in batting average and strikeout rate, and considering he's carrying a slugging percentage in excess of .450 and can also play all around the outfield, Lee is primed to get a big return if the Giants indeed move him,” as written over at ESPN.
Lee would also help fill a need in right field, where Adolis Garcia is out for the rest of the season after lat surgery. That opening makes the fit easy to see if Philadelphia decides to make a move.
Through July 6, Lee was hitting .315 with 33 RBIs in 81 games for San Francisco, which entered that point at 37-52. At 6 feet and just under 200 pounds, he’s not a power bat, and his on-base slugging percentage won’t wow anyone, but he does put the ball in play.
There are still questions, though. McDaniel and Passan described Lee as “isn't a standout defender or baserunner, closer to average,” which makes the price tag and fit worth debating for a Phillies club trying to make a run in October.
Lee’s contract also adds another layer. After this season, he has three years remaining at $21 million per year, and he can opt out after next season.
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The catch is the money, which is always part of the conversation when a deal starts to look this ambitious. Jung Hoo Lee is attached to a long-term contract, Robbie Ray is still carrying a hefty salary, and any team trying to make the math work has to decide how much flexibility it is willing to sacrifice for immediate help. For the Phillies, the appeal is obvious, but so is the question that lingers over any proposal like this: how far are they really prepared to go? [Read more 🡒]
Giants Face A Draft Defining Problem They Still Havent Fixed
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The need is especially clear because the pipeline is still thin, even with a few recent bright spots. Heliot Ramos has become a rare homegrown outfielder to stick as an everyday big leaguer for the Giants, while former top pick Hunter Bishop never got the momentum the club hoped for. There are names in the system who give San Francisco something to build on, but the larger question remains whether this draft finally gives the Giants the kind of outfield depth they have been chasing for so long. [Read more 🡒]