1 trade candidate from every AL East team the Phillies should consider
The AL East teams all have deep rosters and are primed to make a deal. Let's take a look at some players the Phillies should consider targeting.
With free agency in full swing and as teams continue to round out their rosters, organizations scrutinize every roster spot to determine who might be expendable or who they will lock in as a contributor for the 2024 season.
Last season, the AL East sent three teams to the playoffs: the Baltimore Orioles, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Toronto Blue Jays, while the other historically good teams, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, missed out. Perennially, the AL East produces high-quality teams and World Series contenders with deep rosters full of under-the-radar contributors.
As the Phillies inch towards Spring Training and continue to finalize their roster, they will surely look to upgrade the team in creative ways with players who might not be the most obvious additions.
There are a number of players across the five AL East teams that would greatly benefit the 2024 Phillies, but let’s take a look at just one player from each team the Phillies should consider targeting in a trade.
Harold Ramírez, OF/DH/1B, Tampa Bay Rays
Harold Ramírez broke into the league in 2019 with the Miami Marlins and has been relatively consistent throughout his career. He's a career .289 hitter with an on-base percentage of .329 and OPS of .748.
This past season, over 122 games, he hit just 12 home runs but hit for a .313 average, displaying his bat-to-ball skills. His versatility in the field is intriguing with him being able to play both corner outfield positions and first base.
But almost most important for a team like the Phillies, Ramírez is a right-handed bat who has proven to be able to hit Major League pitching. He hit an outstanding .387 against left-handed pitching, which is where the Phillies have lacked a punch in the last couple of years. He would be a valuable bat off the bench and a worthy candidate to give a breather to the everyday guys like Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, and Bryce Harper.