The City of Brotherly Love is looking a little brighter these days as the 2025 MLB season nears the beginning of June. The Philadelphia Phillies are firmly in the World Series conversation following a 36-20 start to the campaign, and one can only assume the front office will do its best to further bolster the championship-caliber roster before July's trade deadline.
If any trades are on the horizon, the outfield is one area the Phillies would likely want to improve. Veteran centerfielders Johan Rojas and Brandon Marsh have both struggled at times throughout the season, leading to Philadelphia being linked to potentially available OFs like Luis Robert Jr. as the season rolls on.
Phillies Must Target OF Chandler Simpson After Being Optioned by Rays
A new potential outfield target for the Phillies just became available. On Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays announced that OF Chandler Simpson has been optioned to Triple-A Durham to make room for the returning Jake Mangum, who just recovered from a groin injury.
Although Mangum's return required an open roster spot, few people expected Simpson to be a potential casualty. The former 2022 second-round selection has been one of the Rays' best players this season, batting .285 with four doubles, 11 RBIs, and six walks in his first 35 games (123 at-bats).
Simpson's 19 stolen bases are also the third-highest total in the Majors, trailing only Robert (21) and the Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (20).
Even if his .632 OPS leaves much to be desired, Simpson has too much potential for the Phillies to ignore. He's a stolen-base threat every time he steps foot on the diamond, and he could also operate as a pinch-runner whenever he isn't in a starting role. He's also only 24 years old, meaning the best could be yet to come as far as his upside goes.
With Marsh and Rojas combined for only four hits, four stolen bases, and one RBI across 30 combined at-bats since May 21, the Phillies can't continue ignoring their outfield needs for much longer. That's why they need to call the Rays about a potential deal for Simpson before another OF-needy club beats them to the punch.