Phillies Possible Outfield Trade Partners With Mets?

After signing Yoenis Cespedes to a monster contract, the Mets need to make room on their roster and payroll. Could the Phillies be of help?

For a time, the Phillies were considered a possible landing spot for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. Instead, he opted to remain with the New York Mets for four more years to the tune of $110 million. After the trade, they now have multiple veteran outfielders with big contracts.

With a bevy of outfielders on their roster, the Mets may look to free up some space both in their outfield and on their payroll. The Phils have a glaring hole in right field, and a trade with the Mets may be able to fill that hole.

Matt Gelb of Philly.com said “New York will move one of its veteran corner outfielders, Jay Bruce or Curtis Granderson.” Both are right fielders that have just one year left on their contract, fitting the bill of what Matt Klentak is looking for in trade targets.

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Bruce was linked to Philadelphia even before the Mets resigned Cespedes. Two of Gelb’s sources said the Phillies inquired about Bruce last spring when he was still with Cincinatti. Earlier in November, Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the trade for Pat Neshek “illustrated they are more likely to trade for someone such as Jay Bruce than to sign Cespedes.” Bruce will make $13 million in 2017, which is just a bit more than what Howie Kendrick will make next season.

Meanwhile, Granderson also fits as he will be a powerful hitter in the middle of the order, something they desperately need. Even though he has not hit for a great average in years, Granderson still hit 30 home runs and posted a .799 OPS in 2016. Granderson accumulated 2.6 fWAR in 2016 and 5.1 in 2015. He would instantly become one of the best hitters in the Pete Mackanin’s lineup.

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As with every player the Phils acquire, the possibility exists of flipping their succeeding veterans to contending teams for an additional prospect or two.

Even though Bruce and Cespedes match up with Philadelphia, a move is by no means a sure thing. The two teams haven’t completed a trade since 2001 when Philadelphia sent Adam Walker and Bruce Chen to New York for Dennis Cook and Turk Wendell. Intradivision trades are far and few between, especially between these two teams.

Roman Quinn and Aaron Altherr will likely compete for the starting job in right field in spring training.

Klentak has stressed numerous times about not blocking the players coming up, which would include Quinn and Altherr. Granderson or Bruce could also wind up blocking other outfield prospects like Nick Williams or Dylan Cozens.

Next: Phillies: 4 Players Matt Klentak Can Sell High On

As long as the Phillies have uncertainty in the outfield, they will be linked in any rumors regarding outfielders on the trading block or in free agency. They could wind up trading for Bruce or Granderson from the Mets as they both would fit in Philadelphia.