The Philadelphia Phillies are in first place in the National League East entering Tuesday’s series opener against the Atlanta Braves. But while the Phillies are enjoying success as a team, there are some who are hoping for a reset.
The Phillies have had several players perform below expectations this year and it will lead president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski to make some tough decisions ahead of this year’s trade deadline. One of those may have to involve a beloved veteran that may need a change of scenery to get his career back on track.
Phillies Could Trade Brandon Marsh Amid Early Season Struggles
One of the biggest disappointments has been the play of Brandon Marsh. The 27-year-old entered this season with Rob Thompson believing he could become the Phillies’ next superstar, but he’s come up woefully short of his expectations, hitting .225/.314/.315 with one home run and 10 RBI over 35 games entering Tuesday’s opener with the Braves.
While part of Marsh’s struggles have had to do with a hamstring injury, he hasn’t done much when he’s been on the field. According to Baseball Savant, Marsh has posted a 4.8% barrel rate this season while also striking out in 27.2% of his plate appearances. He’s also struggled in the field with a minus-three in Baseball Savant’s outs above average metric which creates a big problem in center field.
The Phillies have already been tied to some players that could replace Marsh including Baltimore Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins. But with Philadelphia well over the luxury tax threshold, these deals will be difficult to pull off unless they ditch some established players.
Marsh’s $3 million salary isn’t a problem now but it could become an issue down the road. With two more years of arbitration, a mid-market team could take a chance on a player that hit .277/.372/.458 with 12 homers and 60 RBI in 2023 and do it at an affordable price.
If the Phillies can find a center fielder, Marsh could be expendable. If the Phillies still have a need in the bullpen following Jose Alvarado’s 80-game suspension, Marsh could be the piece that makes a move happen. It’s unlikely the Phillies could make a trade but Marsh will have to start hitting or be subject to trade rumors.