10 Excellent and terrible centerfield options for the Phillies

Manuel Margot, Tampa Bay Rays

Speaking of Rays outfielders, Manuel Margot would be the more affordable target than Kiermaier, but that’s exactly why it’s hard to see the cheapskate Rays trading him.

Knowing these budget sticklers, they’ll be more willing to unload their longest-tenured player and keep Margot, who won’t become a free agent until 2023.

Let’s presume, for a second, that the Rays are willing to trade Kiermaier or Margot to the Phillies, and it’s up to Dave Dombrowski to choose.

On the one hand, Kiermaier is an elite defender, with three Gold Gloves, even a Platinum Glove.

On the other hand, his offensive output is low, he’s often injured, and he’s expensive.

Margot isn’t exactly a top offensive player, either, nor is he an award-winning defender. However, he’s only 26, has already had more full-time seasons than Kiermaier, and is more affordable; he commanded $3.4M in arbitration last year, and Spotrac estimates he’ll get $5M for 2022. He also spent the first four seasons of his career in with the San Diego Padres, making him more familiar with NL pitchers than an AL lifer like Kiermaier.