As the Philadelphia Phillies continue to ride the momentum stemming from their recent winning ways, the 2025 MLB season's first managerial firing just happened.
On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced that manager Derek Shelton had been relieved from his duties after spending parts of six seasons with the franchise. The 54-year-old bench boss led the Pirates to a 306-440 record since taking over ahead of the 2020 campaign, and will now be replaced by bench coach Don Kelly.
It wouldn't be surprising if Shelton's removal led to some change in Pittsburgh. The Pirates already looked like they were going to be sellers heading into this year's trade deadline, and firing their coach could expedite the process, especially if they want to trade away pending free agents rather than losing them for nothing in the winter.
Phillies Must Trade for IF/OF Isiah Kiner-Falefa After Pirates Fire Derek Shelton
If the Pirates are open to making a deal, the Phillies should contact them about infielder/outfielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Philadelphia fans are well aware that the club would love to upgrade the centerfield position, and trading for the versatile veteran would help achieve that goal.
Kiner-Falefa, 30, is a former Gold Glove winner who's played every position at the big-league level except for first base. Yes, that includes 586 innings as a catcher, as well as six innings in as many appearances as a relief pitcher. As for his outfield experience, he's spent 279 1/3 innings at CF, which is the most of the three OF positions.
Although he's known for his defense, Kiner-Falefa is also solid at the plate. The Honolulu, HI native has tallied 34 home runs, 112 doubles, 15 triples, 253 RBIs, 170 walks, and a .263/.313/.351 stat line in 810 games (2,778 at-bats). He's also 91-of-119 (76.5%) when it comes to stolen-base attempts, further illustrating his potential usefulness in the Phillies' lineup.
Kiner-Falefa has been on the injured list retroactive to May 1 due to a hamstring strain. While that might seem concerning on paper, his recovery is going exactly as planned, and the expectation is that he'll start running bases again this weekend. In other words, the Phillies shouldn't be concerned about his situation.
Kiner-Falefa's contract is another reason why Philadelphia should be calling Pittsburgh immediately. He's only making $7.5 million this season and will become a free agent in the winter, meaning the Phillies likely won't have to overpay to get a deal done. A prospect or two should be enough to entice the Pirates, especially if they want to blow up the team in the offseason.
Defense and versatility help win championships, and that's what Kiner-Falefa brings to the table. He'd be the perfect veteran presence to help the Phillies capitalize on their 2025 World Series odds, which currently sit at +1300 (T-4th) on FanDuel Sportsbook.
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