The Philadelphia Phillies have been buyers at the trade deadline in recent years, and that trend shows no sign of stopping with the team still firmly in the midst of their World Series window. As we all know, you need to give something to get something, and bringing in reinforcements doesn’t always come cheap.
Let’s dive into a few players on the Phillies’ Opening Day roster that could be moved at the deadline if the right situation presents itself.
Taijuan Walker
The four-year, $72 million deal the Phillies gave Taijuan Walker ahead of the 2023 season has been an unmitigated failure. There’s no getting around that. The former All-Star has worked to an ugly 4.88 ERA over his three seasons wearing red pinstripes, and even pitched himself out of the starting rotation during his disastrous 2024 season. Fans have clamored for the Phillies to cut bait on the 33-year-old, but it looks like Walker will play out the final season of his contract.
While there has been plenty of pessimism surrounding Taijuan Walker, it isn’t all doom and gloom, as the right-hander has actually provided some value as a swingman. After losing his rotation spot, Walker settled into a bullpen role, but has since bounced back and forth depending on the team’s circumstances. Coming into 2026, Walker is slated to get regular turns through the rotation, at least until Zack Wheeler returns from the Injured List.
Considering the fact that Walker is coming off of his best Phillies season (123 ⅔ innings of 4.08 ERA ball), there’s reason for optimism for 2026. He’s not going to be a star, but he may pitch well enough to draw some interest at the trade deadline. Teams are always looking for pitching during the stretch run and Walker could fit that bill as a decent, if unspectacular, innings eater.
If all goes well for the Phillies, they’ll have five solid starting pitching options this summer. A healthy Wheeler should front a dynamite rotation consisting of recently-extended lefties Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, a resurgent Aaron Nola, and top prospect Andrew Painter. If those guys box Taijuan Walker out, then his best use to the Phillies isn’t as a redundant swingman, but as a trade chip to bring back another useful piece like a bench bat or bullpen arm.
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Brandon Marsh
Carefree outfielder Brandon Marsh has done yeoman’s work for the Phillies ever since he was brought in at the 2022 trade deadline, as he solidified a black hole in centerfield and has brought stability to an outfield mix that is perpetually lacking. The 28-year-old has since realized his limitations, shifting over to left field where his defense is much improved, and sliding into a platoon role to shield him against left-handers. Still, Marsh is a very productive player, having run a .270/.345/.441 line over his four seasons in Philadelphia.
There’s nothing pushing Marsh out the door, as the Phillies still have a weak outfield picture and he’s under team control through the 2027 season. Trading him away would subtract from a lineup that has already proven itself to be feast-or-famine. And yet, what if the Phillies used Marsh as part of a bigger package to land a true difference-making bat?
One name that comes to mind as a potential fit is Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan, whose name was bandied about at last year's deadline. The 28-year-old is on the same contractual timeline as Marsh, as he’s set to reach free agency after 2027. Kwan would be a significant upgrade in the field, having brought home four consecutive Gold Glove Awards. The two-time All-Star is also a natural fit to the Phillies’ boom-or-bust offense as a contact-oriented hitting machine who sets the table for the thumpers further down in the order.
While it would sting to see Brandon Marsh go, Steven Kwan would do wonders for the Phillies. If Marsh gets out to a hot start this season, he could be used as the centerpiece of a package heading back to Cleveland to replace their star outfielder. Fans might not like it, but if Brandon Marsh is the price that needs to be paid in order to win a World Series, so be it.
Bryson Stott
Second baseman Bryson Stott is one of the most fascinating Phillies heading into the 2026 season, as the 28-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance, but has yet to develop into a true star. The 2019 first-round pick has been an elite fielder at the keystone, but his bat has lagged behind developmentally, evidenced by his .701 OPS over four big league seasons.
Stott hasn’t been a bad player by any means, but there’s certainly room for improvement at second base. The Phillies probably aren’t in any rush to move him, and they’re most likely dying to see how he’ll fare at the plate this coming season. You see, Stott incorporated changes to his hand placement into his batting stance down the stretch last year, and it paid big dividends in the form of an .880 OPS from August on. If those improvements are real, then why trade him?
The answer to that question lies in 2023 first-round pick Aidan Miller. The 21-year-old is barreling towards the big leagues at breakneck speed and has planted his flag firmly on top-100 prospect lists as a legitimate five-tool talent. Miller is set to begin the coming season in the minors, but if he keeps producing, it won’t be long before he gets the call to the big leagues, and he won’t come up just to sit on the bench.
Miller will need to play somewhere on the infield, and there are only so many spots to go around. Shortstop is occupied for the foreseeable future by Trea Turner, and face of the franchise Bryce Harper isn’t going anywhere at first base. That leaves second and third as the most viable options, and it wouldn’t shock anyone to see Miller supplant Stott or Alec Bohm as he ascends to stardom. If the keystone does turn out to be where Aidan Miller makes a name for himself, then the Phillies may need to look into moving Bryson Stott to another club and bringing back a player that fits their roster better.
Alec Bohm
If Aidan Miller disrupts the Phillies’ infield picture, the other obvious place to put him is third base. This scenario is actually the more likely of the two, as current hot corner occupant Alec Bohm is in his last year of team control, and has had quite a bumpy ride throughout his Phillies tenure. In spite of the peaks and valleys, Bohm has proven to be a perfectly adequate third baseman, but has failed to distinguish himself. That puts a massive target on his back as Aidan Miller careens towards the majors.
The Phillies were reportedly ready to move on from Bohm this winter, as they courted former Blue Jays star Bo Bichette to take over third base. Unfortunately, that pursuit went down in flames, leaving Bohm as the Phils’ most viable option. It’s been made abundantly clear that the team has no problem moving on from their erstwhile former first-rounder, and the August 3rd trade deadline may be the perfect time to do so.
Contending teams are always clamoring to add quality bats during the dog days of summer, and despite the weariness surrounding Alec Bohm, he has performed capably in recent years. To wit, the 29-year-old has a perfectly acceptable .743 OPS for his career. Nothing special, but a team in need of a third sacker would jump at the chance to add that bat.
Ultimately, it’s hard to tell how long Alec Bohm will stick around in Philadelphia, as the team that has tried to move on from him already has had him hanging around for the better part of a decade. If the chips fall in such a way that Aidan Miller pushes him out of a job, then perhaps the best gift Alec Bohm can give the Phillies isn’t his play on the field, but bringing in another asset to help the club in their pursuit of an ever-elusive ring.