4 good free agent fits for Phillies who are somehow still available

These available free agents would increase the club's depth.

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Mark Canha

Mark Canha is another experienced outfielder that the Phillies could add in a reserve role. He has been traded mid-season at the trade deadline in the last two years. The Milwaukee Brewers acquired him from the New York Mets in 2023, while the San Francisco Giants traded for him from the Detroit Tigers last year.

After the Brewers traded for him, Canha did better than he did with the Mets in 2023. After posting a .245/.343/.381 line with a .724 OPS in 89 games with New York, the San Jose, California, native had a slash line of .287/.373/.427 and an OPS of .800 in 50 contests in Milwaukee.

Canha also did better in the second half last season once the Giants traded for him. He had a .231/.337/.350 line with a .687 OPS in 93 games with the Tigers and then posted a .288/.376/.329 slash line and an OPS of .705 in 32 contests with San Francisco.

The outfielder has played 481 games in left field during his career, 180 in center and 157 in right. He has demonstrated his defensive versatility with 187 career games at first base and 10 games at third.

Canha will be 36 at the start of spring training and looks more suitable for a part-time role at this point in his career. He represents the ideal free agent for the Phillies to sign if they want to add more outfield depth. He would back up Kepler in left field and allow Marsh to play primarily in center. The former Giant would provide Thomson with a left-handed hitter to bat against left-handed pitchers.

MLB.com published an article in December about one realistic free agent for each team. Canha was chosen as a fit for Philadelphia. Beat writer Todd Zolecki wrote that the Phillies need to make another outfield addition: "At the moment, the Phillies expect Nick Castellanos, Kepler and Brandon Marsh to see the majority of playing time in the outfield. But a bat like Canha’s could face tough lefties, moving Kepler to center on occasion."

The Phillies could sign Canha to an affordable one-year deal. If he remains unsigned at the beginning of spring training, the organization could invite him to Clearwater to compete for a roster spot. The addition would be low-risk, and his presence would give the club an experienced backup option for their outfield, something the team lacks.

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