The Philadelphia Phillies’ outfield has been a major topic of discussion all season. However, MLB insider Jeff Passan has floated the idea of the Phillies fixing their outfield by splurging on top free agent Kyle Tucker.
Max Kepler has been a failed experiment, Johan Rojas is playing at Triple-A, and now Nick Castellanos has begun to fall into a platoon in right field. Luckily, Harrison Bader has been a bright spot both offensively and defensively since being acquired from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline. After a hitless month of April when Phillies fans wanted him gone, Brandon Marsh has been dialed in at the plate and raised his batting average to .273 on the season.
Even with Bader and Marsh turning it up a notch late in the season, the Phillies’ outfield could look a lot different in 2026.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan suggests Kyle Tucker as fit for Phillies in free agency
Perhaps the biggest fish in the 2026 MLB free agent class is Chicago Cubs outfielder Tucker. The four-time All-Star spent the first seven years of his career with the Houston Astros before being traded to the Cubs this past offseason.
Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suárez are set to be free agents, and their futures with the Phillies are up in the air. Tucker has been linked to the Phillies in the past and could be their long-time answer in the corner outfield, especially if Schwarber walks in free agency, per ESPN’s Passan.
Tucker has experience at all three outfield positions, but he’s primarily a right fielder. Other than three appearances in left field in 2022, Castellanos has only played right field with the Phillies since joining the team, and he still has one year left on his five-year, $100 million contract.
Castellanos was an All-Star in 2023, but the 33-year-old has proven to be a streaky hitter. After owning a .282 batting average through June this season, Castellanos is hitting .200 since the start of July. His recent struggles have prompted discussions about his future with the team.
The Phillies could try to move on from Castellanos after the season and make a push for a player like Tucker in free agency. Tucker is the total package; he can hit for both power and average, steal bases and play above-average defense.
Tucker will have many suitors if he doesn’t work out a new contract with the Cubs. Passan suggests that the 28-year-old left-handed hitter will likely receive a contract in the $400 million range, but the price could increase depending on a bidding war.
The Phillies could bring back Bader in 2026 and call up one of their top prospects, Justin Crawford, to go along with Marsh and Castellanos. However, if an elite talent like Tucker is available, the Phillies should do everything in their power to add him to the team.