After a three-game sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros, the Philadelphia Phillies could use some help. The trade deadline is just over a month away, and the Astros series highlighted a glaring need for the Phillies.
The Phillies’ biggest weakness in 2025 has been the bullpen. The team must address the bullpen at the deadline by adding one, or even two, late-inning, high-leverage relievers.
Although the bullpen will be the primary focus at the deadline, the Phillies could benefit from a new face in the lineup, particularly in the outfield. After scoring just one run and tallying 15 hits against the Astros, the Phillies’ lineup showed how streaky it can be.
Jeff Passan connects Rangers' Adolis García to Phillies in trade deadline preview
ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel put together a list of 50 trade candidates and ranked how likely a deal could be. The Phillies are tabbed as potential fits for multiple players on the list, but a former World Series hero with the Texas Rangers is one of the most intriguing options.
Passan and McDaniel listed the Phillies, along with the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants, as the best fits for Rangers outfielder Adolis García. The experts added that a potential trade is likely at 80 percent with the Rangers sitting in fourth place in the AL West and out of a playoff spot.
García hit 122 home runs with 383 RBIs in four seasons from 2021 to 2024. The two-time All-Star hit a career-high 39 home runs and 107 RBIs in 2023 and was a key contributor on the Rangers’ World Series team. He hit .323 with a 1.108 OPS, eight home runs and 22 RBIs in 15 games during the 2023 playoffs and was named the ALCS MVP.
Not only is García a proven slugger, but he’s also an above-average fielder. He owns a career .985 fielding percentage between all three outfield positions and has just one error in 2025.
After two stellar plays in the field, Adolis García shows off his pop at the plate 💪 pic.twitter.com/zIhrnao29c
— MLB (@MLB) June 20, 2025
García is primarily used in right field, but the veteran has plenty of experience in center field throughout his major league career. Nick Castellanos is the Phillies’ right fielder, but García could take over in center field or be a right-handed option in left field to go along with the left-handed hitting Max Kepler.
Despite prior success at the plate, the numbers haven’t been as good for García in 2025. The 32-year-old is slashing .230/.279/.393 with a .672 OPS and nine home runs in 76 games, far less power numbers than in the past.
After hitting .189 in May, García has heated up in June, owning a .288 batting average in the month. However, his power is still down as he has hit only two home runs so far in June.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has stated that he’s happy with the lineup (subscription required) ahead of the trade deadline, per The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, but a player like García could significantly improve the streaky offense. Not to mention, García would come with one more year of club control, making the slugger that more enticing.