With 2024 coming to a close, it is that time of year again to look back at the Philadelphia Phillies and their past MLB season. There were obviously memorable moments of excitement, along with forgettable moments of disappointment. Nevertheless, it was a truly eventual year in more ways than one.
The Phillies were led by various players who helped them achieve the overall success that they had. But who were the most valuable terms of position players for Philadelphia?
To determine that, we took a look at the FanGraphs WAR (wins above replacement) for each player since the statistic takes into consideration a player’s value and contributions in all facets of the game. The fWAR values determine the top five Most Valuable Phillies position players from this past season with a minimum of 300 plate appearances. For some players, the results were as many would have expected, but for some others, it sure turned out to be quite the surprise.
Phillies 2024 MVP: Ranking the five Most Valuable Phillies position players
No. 5: Brandon Marsh, 2.4 fWAR
Perhaps the most surprising among the entire group, Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh finds himself in the fifth spot on this list. What made it so shocking was the fact that his contributions even managed to beat out his star teammates J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos, based on fWAR.
Despite not being an offensive juggernaut, Marsh could always be counted on to put up solid numbers on offense to go along with his elite defense play in the outfield. In 2024, he posted career-highs in home runs (16) and stolen bases (19), along with a .249 average, .747 OPS, 55 runs scored and 60 RBI in 135 games played.
On top of that, Marsh had one of his best seasons on defense by recording seven defensive runs saved and six outfield assists, along with a .980 fielding percentage in 239 total chances over 1,038 2/3 innings. With that strong performance, he was even a Gold Glove finalist this past season.
For someone who has found himself in unexpected trade rumors this offseason, the Phillies might need to think twice before considering dealing the young 27-year-old outfielder. After all, with Marsh among the Phillies’ top five most valuable players in 2024 for position players, he must be doing something right in helping the team win. Given that he is also a fan favorite, any possibility of moving him must completely knock the socks off of the Phillies to even consider giving up on him.