A broken thumb is what it took for the Philadelphia Phillies to question whether or not they will be trade deadline buyers or sellers. For a good portion of the year, they’ve hung around as a hopeful buyer, only recently accomplishing enough to secure themselves as a potential wild card team.
Unfortunately, Bryce Harper breaking his thumb might have the front office waving the white flag.
How they perform over the next three weeks in his absence will determine what they ultimately decide to do at the trade deadline. In Harper’s absence, they should be looking to add an outfielder as soon as they can—possibly even one they can move into center fielder if Harper is able to return fully healthy.
Philadelphia Phillies trade candidate to help replace Bryce Harper: Ian Happ.
Ian Happ is a favorite trade target of mine because of all of the positions he can play. The Chicago Cubs starting left fielder also has a lot of experience in center field as well as multiple infield positions. He has essentially accomplished what the team had hoped Scott Kingery could several years ago.
Happ is also having a fine year at the plate. While nowhere near the power hitter Harper is, he is among the league leaders in OBP. Happ also happens to be under team control through next season as well which means he’d be more than a rental for the Phillies.
Because of the Harper injury, we might see the Phillies buy a little less right now and hope for better days ahead in 2023. With Happ, they actually secure themselves a player for next season already. He could be a good enough starting center fielder for them or even a candidate to play second base if they let Jean Segura walk.
A vastly different player from Harper, Happ can help the Phillies’ offense role in a different kind of way and maybe even slide in as an atypical leadoff option.
Philadelphia Phillies trade candidate to help replace Bryce Harper: Andrew Benintendi.
If Happ isn’t anything like Harper, Andrew Benintendi must be his near-opposite. Benintendi has never hit for all that much power nor has he found his home run stroke in 2022 with the Kansas City Royals. However, Benintendi has been hitting for a high average all year and posting good OBP numbers. Those are attributes the Phillies could use in their lineup during Harper’s absence.
Much like Happ, the Phillies could trade for him and find themselves a candidate to bat first in the lineup. It’s something they neglected to do over the years, settling for more untraditional guys like Kyle Schwarber to get first ups regularly.
Benintendi is a free agent after this season so the Royals have a definite need to trade him. A left-handed hitter who won a Gold Glove as a left fielder last year, he’d be a candidate for the Phillies to plug into center field in a perfect situation where Harper comes back and is able to play defense in right field.
Despite the good year he’s having, Benintendi shouldn’t be considered out of the price range. But because there is no control of him beyond this year and he’s not a perfect fit for them in free agency over the winter, the Phillies will have to do more than add him for this to make sense.
Philadelphia Phillies trade candidate to replace Bryce Harper: Brandon Drury and Albert Almora.
Originally, I took a look at two other members of the Cincinnati Reds to help deal with the loss of Harper. Tommy Pham was a candidate and so was Tyler Naquin. While neither should be eliminated from the discussion to add an outfielder, there is another guy the Phillies should look at.
Brandon Drury is having quite a year for the Reds and would be a more than adequate bat for them to add to the everyday lineup. Another utility player they can move around the field, Drury would be considered a candidate to play some corner outfield as well as second base and third base.
Several years ago, Drury was considered an up-and-coming player until an injury derailed his career. He regained some credibility last year in a part-time role with the New York Mets only to eliminate many doubts this season as a regular for the Reds. Although more of an infielder than an outfielder, he’s a hot-hitting player this season who might only have more success if inserted into a lineup like the one he’d find himself aligned with in Philadelphia.
The Phillies could even pair him with Albert Almora—a down on his luck center fielder who can play defense well and seems to have rediscovered his offensive abilities this year in Cincinnati. While it doesn’t exactly replace what Harper can do, it gives the Phillies two players who can make them better.
Philadelphia Phillies trade candidate to replace Bryce Harper: Charlie Blackmon or Randal Grichuk.
It’s a draw as to which Colorado Rockies outfielder would be a better fit for the Phillies. Charlie Blackmon is hitting better this year but his salary is higher and he’s more of a DH at this point anyway. Randal Grichuk, meanwhile, is a little more suited to play the field but does carry with him what looks to be a weaker bat—at least this season.
Blackmon or Grichuk could give the Phillies a little more outfield depth if Harper is able to return. Grichuk may make a little more sense if only because we all already understand how loaded with DH options this club already is.
When it comes to replacing Harper, it’s pretty impossible. The Phillies also have other questions they need to answer. They aren’t just a reigning MVP away from making the postseason. They could use a starting rotation upgrade and some bullpen help. Even with a healthy Harper, an upgrade in center field makes sense.
From the Rockies, Blackmon or Grichuk along with closer Daniel Bard could be one deal to think about. It won’t make the Phillies a top contender for a championship. It can, however, help them weather the storm.
We shouldn’t expect the Phillies to pull off any major move for a player of Harper’s caliber. Those guys just aren’t available or a fit for the Phillies. Given all of the choices, Happ definitely carries the most intrigue. But is the most realistic for a team that often goes with second-tier players?