3 Players Phillies Should Acquire from Struggling D-backs

3. Ketel Marte

The Phillies still do not necessarily have a long-term solution for centerfield. Not to mention, they have a former MVP award-winner in left fielder Andrew McCutchen coming off of the books, as he is in the final season of his three-year pact.

Acquiring the seven-year veteran and 2019 All-Star, Ketel Marte, would help resolve one of the looming needs the Phillies will inevitably have to soon figure out.

Debuting in July 2015, the 27-year-old Dominican Republic native is a career .286/.343/.449 hitter through 622 games — 446 of which he has played with the D-backs over the past five seasons.

In 2019, Marte finished fourth in the National League MVP Award race, with 36 doubles, 9 triples, 32 home runs, and 92 RBI, while hitting .329 and posting career-highs in slugging (.592) and OPS (.981) in 144 games and 628 plate appearances. In the 2017 postseason, he notably slashed .412/.412/.824 across 17 plate appearances, before the D-backs ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in that year’s Division Series.

Marte has turned into one of the game’s better centerfielders, however, he has only recently assumed the position full-time. He began his career as the primary shortstop for the Seattle Mariners. But Marte is adjusting well to the outfield, across 54 chances in center this season, he has committed only one error.

If the D-backs did not have Marte and his four home runs, 16 RBI, and .347/.391/.525 slash line this season, they would be worse than their already lowly 20-50 record. Perhaps the Phillies could acquire him for the right price and significantly bolster their outfield and lineup.