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.