Some of the most notable trades in recent Philadelphia Phillies history have come with teams in the American League West, the division that is more removed from the Phillies standings relevancy, rivalry, and geographical concerns than any other in baseball.
Statistically speaking, in fact, the Phillies have dealt with AL West clubs more than any other in baseball over the past decade. And they have very good reason for sending guys like Logan O'Hoppe and Mickey Moniak to a different league on the other side of the country, as opposed to 90 minutes south or north to D.C. or New York.
The aforementioned O'Hoppe and Moniak deals with the Angels brought Noah Syndergaard and Brandon Marsh to the 2022 World Series team. Thor played his role, and Marsh broke out and is one of the team's brightest young stars.
Long before that, the Phillies embarked on the dark days of their rebuild in 2015 when they sent Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers for Nick Williams, Jerad Eickhoff, Jorge Alfaro, and others. That may not seem like much, but Alfaro was still a promising piece a few years later when he helped the Phillies steal J.T. Realmuto from the Marlins. In 2021, they revisited the Rangers front office in nabbing Ian Kennedy and Kyle Gibson for Spencer Howard.
The Seattle Mariners, of course, got J.P. Crawford from the Phillies, in a deal that now looks like a boon for Seattle but which helped the Phillies win the NL Pennant in 2022. That trade, of course, was what first brought Jean Segura to Philly in 2018.
The Oakland Athletics haven't had much to offer in recent years, but they did provide the Phillies with a very intriguing piece in Christian Pache, who will, at the very least, be a solid depth outfield option heading into spring training. Pache has an elite glove, above-average speed, and flashed upside with his bat in 2023, so there could be more to say here come this time next year.
And even the hated Astros gave the Phillies a few years of Vince Velasquez in exchange for Ken Giles, who was at the time one of the most dominant late-innings men in baseball.
If the Phillies hit the trade market this summer as they have in nearly every year recently, besides last year, expect them to strongly consider what AL West clubs have to offer. Here's a glance at one trade candidate the Phillies could target from each club in the division.