Philadelphia Phillies: 3 best trade candidates to target for center field

The Philadelphia Phillies have not decided if they will be buying or selling this July. If it’s the former, center field will probably be an area of need.

The team hasn’t gotten much out of Odubel Herrera this year and with Mickey Moniak sidelined, we’re playing a waiting game to see if he can give them anything at all in 2022.

While there isn’t any elite center fielder being talked about as a potential trade piece around MLB at the moment, there are three players with experience at the position who could give the Phillies a boost. Two of them also have extensive experience at some other spots which adds some defensive versatility to a club in desperate need of it.

1. Philadelphia Phillies trade candidate: Ian Happ.

Ian Happ has played a lot of positions in his major league career. Center field has been his primary spot—more out of need than ability. This year, he has found himself playing more left field for the Chicago Cubs. However, he has also played right field and all infield positions except for shortstop and catcher. He has even pitched an inning.

Happ’s best defensive position is filing in as a DH—something the Phillies have plenty of already. He’s not a dreadful left fielder. The way he would fit in on this particular club, however, would be to go to center field.

Under team control through next year as well, Happ can find himself roving a little bit around the Phillies’ defensive alignment while getting plenty of starts as the center fielder. He has been an above-average hitter in his career with some good pop at times. Last year, his numbers dipped to a .226/.323/.434 slash line but he increased his power with 25 home runs. Surely, this total could hold steady playing at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark regularly.

Happ is a member of a Cubs team unsure of where they’re going. They made some moves over the offseason to suggest they wanted to compete. However, they’ve been unable to sign players like Willson Contreras to extensions. It looks like the Cubs will once again be trade deadline sellers. Happ should be someone the Phillies investigate.

Next year, if Jean Segura walks, they could also have a quick answer at second base.