As the Philadelphia Phillies organization works to rebuild their outfield this offseason, fans anxiously await news on who they'll see on the team's roster come Opening Day.
With the decision not to tender left fielder Austin Hays and with right fielder Nick Castellanos allegedly made available in trade talks, the future of the Phillies' outfield is currently uncertain.
Johan Rojas in center field provided the team with quality defense throughout the season, though he lacked reliability at the plate. And considering Bryce Harper has been solidified as an All-Star first baseman, we can certainly count out his return to the outfield
Phillies have included top outfield prospect Justin Crawford in trade talks
So, who is the solution to strengthening the outfield? Justin Crawford is the Phillies’ top outfield prospect, though sources are suggesting that he has been included in recent trade talks (subscription required), according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
“Their best outfield prospect, Justin Crawford, could use another year of development," Gelb writes. "The Phillies, according to major-league sources, have not excluded Crawford from trade talks. He would be moved only for a big-league player with multiple years of club control.”
This may come as a surprise for many Phillies fans who have followed Crawford, considering the young outfielder put up some impressive stats in the 2024 minor league season, batting .313 with nine home runs, and was on the roster for Team USA in the Premier12 tournament.
Gelb isn't the only one reporting Crawford's inclusion in trade talks. USA Today's Bob Nightengale also reported that the Phillies have included the outfielder in talks with the Chicago White Sox.
"They have spoken about Bohm and outfield prospect Justin Crawford in extensive trade talks with the Chicago White Sox for starter Garrett Crochet," Nightengale notes.
If his minor league performance so far is any indication, Crawford has the ability to be effective on defense while also being a key contributor in the lineup, which is something the team would certainly value after many of their outfielders struggled to hit consistently this past season.
If the 20-year-old prospect is in fact a viable option for trade negotiations, who might the Phillies be looking at instead? Certainly Juan Soto would be an exciting addition to the outfield, though it isn’t yet clear if this is feasible for the organization; the Phillies would need to beat out other interested teams, like longtime rival the Mets, and would have to be willing to increase the player payroll significantly.
Whether the Phillies opt to utilize Crawford as a part of their roster or as a trade opportunity, fans can only hope the moves the organization makes will amount to a solid outfield for the coming season.