Phillies: Players traded away performing well for new teams
Making Moves with the Marlins
One of the biggest trades in baseball this past offseason came within the division when the Phillies and Marlins swapped catchers. One franchise was ready to work with one of the game’s best while the other has time to develop one that could reach that height in a couple of years.
Without offering top prospect Sixto Sanchez, a deal for J.T. Realmuto was a “longshot” for the Phillies, but once they budged it was a match made in heaven.
The Phillies got their first look at Jorge Alfaro in dark blue Friday night when he went two for four against them in Miami. Alfaro continues to develop at and behind the plate and is hitting balls the opposite way on a consistent basis.
Alfaro has 10 hits and three home runs through 11 games, hitting .286, but striking out 15 times to just one walk. After leading the league in passed balls last year he’s only let one slip by, and he’s given up two stolen bases despite a cannon of an arm.
The forgotten piece of the deal is Will Stewart, who reminded everyone Friday night why the Marlins coveted him. Stewart pitched nearly eight one-hit shutout innings with a walk and seven strikeouts, and retired 19 consecutive batters. Stewart’s final batter of the game broke up the no-hitter in the eighth with a double.
The prize of the trade for Miami was Sanchez, despite the top prospect dealing with elbow inflammation. According to our sister site Marlins Maniac Sanchez will make his season debut on April 26.
Sanchez was arguably the only pitching prospect in the Phillies organization with top of the rotation ability, but getting the best catcher in baseball comes with a price. If healthy Sanchez could haunt the Phillies for years in Miami.
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It shouldn’t worry fans that the pieces traded away are performing above expectations early on. Each move allowed the Phillies organization to take a major step forward towards a championship run. They’ve set themselves up for a long time despite moving four young players with high ceilings, and the organization is already seeing the benefits for each trade.