That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies: Three Blockbuster Trades They Can Make

By David Esser

SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 12: Kris Bryant #17 of the Chicago Cubs and Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals stand together at the batting cage prior to the 87th MLB All-Star Game at PETCO Park on July 12, 2016 in San Diego, California. The American League defeated the National League 4-2. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 12: Kris Bryant #17 of the Chicago Cubs and Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals stand together at the batting cage prior to the 87th MLB All-Star Game at PETCO Park on July 12, 2016 in San Diego, California. The American League defeated the National League 4-2. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Phillies
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 14: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals talks with Kris Bryant #17 of the Chicago Cubs during the eighth inning at Nationals Park on June 14, 2016 in Washington, DC. Chicago won the game 4-3. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Where will the Phillies turn to make a blockbuster trade this offseason?

The Philadelphia Phillies’ spending this offseason appears to be coming to a close. Almost all the big free agent names are off the board, and the rest of the “bargain signings” have been getting snapped up left and right.

However, despite the Phils’ apparent fear of spending too much, the general vibe is that they would in fact go over the luxury tax for a superstar. With that in mind, here are three very possible blockbuster trades the Phillies could pull off.

Kris Bryant

This one is a no-brainer. Ever since Kris Bryant began his legal dispute with the Chicago Cubs over his time of service, trade rumors have been swirling. Throw in the fact that the Cubs appear to be more committed to shortstop Javier Baez long term, the future for Bryant is almost definitely not in a Cubs uniform.

Bryant has two really, really strong connections to the city of Philadelphia. First, one of his childhood friends is literally the face of the franchise. Yes, Bryce Harper and Bryant are best buds. They’ve known each other since grade school and regularly hang out together during the offseason. Harper no doubt gets a say in if the Phillies are adding a superstar talent, and he most positively would be pulling for Bryant in this scenario.

Second, Bryant’s agent is the infamous Scott Boras. While Boras normally draws groans from fans around the country, Boras and Philadelphia are on relatively good terms. Phillies’ owner John Middleton is a personal friend of the agent and they of course collaborated together on inking the Harper deal. A deal that made Boras a ton of money last offseason.

Bryant will be a free agent in either 2021 or 2022. Boras should be salivating at the idea of having another one of his major clients playing for the Phillies.

Above all else, Bryant is simply a really good baseball player. In just five years of major league play he’s been named to three All-Star games, won Rookie of the Year (2015), and won MVP (2017). Bryant can hit for average and for power simultaneously, posting a career batting average of .284 and a career slugging percentage of .516. His top of the league batting ability would slot in perfectly at the Phils’ cleanup spot, right behind his pal Harper.

Home/Phillies News