3 Phillies prospects who should not be traded, 2 who should
Which of the Phillies' top prospects should be untouchable, and which could be expendable?
With the Philadelphia Phillies gearing up for the stretch run, they will be looking to bolster their current roster as the trade deadline draws near. For the Phillies to recruit any player of value that could significantly help the ballclub, no doubt some valuable prospects will have to head the other way to get any deal done.
With that in mind, which of the Phillies' prospects should be classified under the untouchables category, and which ones could be expendable? We will look at three top prospects the Phillies should avoid moving at all costs and two others that should become their main trade chips going forward.
3 Phillies prospects who should not be traded, 2 who should
The Phillies should not trade Aidan Miller at the deadline
One of the best top prospects in the Phillies’ system not named Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller has put together a strong 2024 season thus far. As the Phillies' first-round selection in the 2023 MLB Draft, Miller has jumped all the way to the No. 2 spot in the organization’s top prospects list, according to MLB Pipeline, in just about a year’s time.
Miller began the year with the Single-A Clearwater Threshers, where he rode his hot bat to a .275 batting average and .884 OPS, with 28 runs scored, 16 doubles, five home runs, 26 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 39 games. In doing so, he earned an early promotion to the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws in June.
He has struggled a bit with respect to his hitting since the move, sporting just a .171 average. But he has still managed to put up a respectable seven runs scored, two home runs, eight RBI and two stolen bases in 20 games. Nevertheless, his limitless potential makes him the Phillies’ best infield prospect since Chase Utley, and he should be left out of any trade discussions.
The Phillies should not trade Justin Crawford at the deadline
It’s not every day you find an elite five-tool superstar in the making, but the Phillies may happen to have a blooming one in outfielder Justin Crawford. With his father Carl having had quite the MLB career as a four-time All-Star over his 15 seasons, Justin could perhaps be even better following a strong start to his professional baseball journey.
Crawford split his time between the Threshers and BlueClaws last season, accumulating a stellar .332 average and .859 OPS, along with 71 runs scored, 22 doubles, eight triples, three home runs and 64 RBI. At the same time, he displayed his superior speed tool with 47 stolen bases in 55 attempts over 87 games.
This year in High-A, the Phillies No. 3 prospect has sacrificed some of his batting average to improve his stock by adding more power, according to MLB.com's Ben Weinrib. In 68 games, he's hitting a solid .294 with a .765 OPS, 50 runs scored, 14 doubles, three triples, six home runs, 35 RBI and 26 stolen bases.
Crawford has also cleaned up his defensive game, going from a .954 fielding percentage with seven errors committed in 77 games in the field last season to a much-improved .990 fielding percentage with only one error in 56 games this year.
With the former 2022 first-round pick steadily rounding into form in all aspects of his game, if the Phillies traded such a valuable asset, they might be sacrificing a future cornerstone of the franchise.
The Phillies should not trade Eduardo Tait at the deadline
Eduardo Tait has certainly found a way to put himself on the map this season. He was originally signed by the Phillies as an international free agent out of Panama in 2023. Given their lack of depth in the catching position, adding Tait sure made a lot of sense to the club long-term. In doing so, the Phillies may have unearthed a hidden gem.
So far in 2024, Tait has put his skills on full display with the Rookie-level FCL Phillies. In 40 games, Tait is hitting .301 with an .862 OPS, along with 22 runs scored, 11 doubles, five home runs and 39 RBI. From a defensive standpoint, he has thrown out nine of 33 baserunners for a 27 percent caught-stealing success rate, while registering a .980 fielding percentage. All in all, he is currently ranked at No. 8 among the Phillies' top prospects, according to MLB Pipeline.
Don’t look now, but the Phillies could have the next Carlos Ruiz on their hands, who happened to also come out of Panama. With teams often having difficulty finding a true homegrown power-hitting catcher in their system, the fact that Philadelphia has one already prospering means they should ensure he remains untouchable at the trade deadline.
The Phillies should trade Mick Abel at the deadline
Not so long ago, Andrew Painter and Mick Abel appeared to be the “next ones” who would cement the front end of the Phillies rotation. With their ability to dominate hitters, it seemed like just a matter of time before they would finally make their arrival. However, No. 5 prospect Abel has struggled mightily so far in 2024.
Following a solid season in 2023 with the Reading Fightin Phils, where Abel compiled a 4.14 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 126 strikeouts in 108 2/3 innings pitched, he has run into some recurring control issues with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
In 14 starts, Abel has a dismal 2-7 record with a 6.58 ERA and 1.80 WHIP, along with giving up 13 home runs, 46 walks and registering 60 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings of work. Unfortunately, his underwhelming performance has led to a free fall in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects rankings.
His potential is still there, but he will need to find a way to rediscover his prior form to succeed beyond the minor leagues. Nevertheless, with Painter off-limits in any trade talk, the Phillies will need to make their next best top pitching prospect available to get anything done.
Despite his current struggles, any prospective team that believes they can fix what is ailing him will likely bet on Abel's ability to become a star. There should still be some solid deals to be had that could help the Phillies in their quest for the World Series, with Abel as a valuable trade chip.
The Phillies should trade Gabriel Rincones Jr. at the deadline
To avoid having five-tool sensation Crawford part of any trade talks, the Phillies will ultimately need to make another top position prospect available if they intend to significantly upgrade at the trade deadline. The sacrificial candidate should be No. 9 prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr.
Rincones was selected in the third round in 2022. Following a solid season between Single- and High-A in 2023, in which he hit .248 with 81 runs, 31 doubles, 15 home runs, 60 RBI and 32 stolen bases, Rincones has missed the majority of the 2024 season with a thumb injury. In the 13 games he appeared in with the Fightin Phils this year, he batted .291 with 13 runs scored, four home runs and five RBI in 13 games.
With the long layoff from his injury, his expected arrival time in the big leagues could be delayed until towards the end of the 2025 season and perhaps into 2026. That would put him in line with Crawford's ETA.
With Nick Castellanos, Johan Rojas and Brandon Marsh likely still around at that point in time, the Phillies can afford to give up one of their promising outfield prospects. Given that Rincones' defensive capabilities are considerably behind Crawford, whether it be arm strength, tracking or speed, the Phillies should keep hold of the most well-rounded player in Crawford and make Rincones a trade chip.
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