The July 30 trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and the Philadelphia Phillies have been linked to many targets in the weeks leading up to it. If you’ve been following the rumor mill, you’d see that the most linked position when it comes to what the Phillies could go after at the deadline is the outfield.
The Tampa Bay Rays have an intriguing piece in that area of need that Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski could look into. That player is outfielder Randy Arozarena.
Former GM includes Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas in potential package for Randy Arozarena
The Athletic's Jim Bowden, a former general manager of both the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, listed some names that could be included (subscription required) in a potential deal for the Rays outfielder. One name that might come as a bit of a surprise is Phillies center fielder Johan Rojas.
Rojas is known for his elite defense and speed, but he hasn’t been able to figure things out at the plate to this point in his major league career. The 23-year-old has spent parts of the last two seasons as the Phillies’ center fielder, slashing .260/.297/.349 with only five home runs and 21 extra-base hits in 411 plate appearances.
Arozarena, on the other hand, has three 20-plus home run seasons and is a one-time All-Star throughout his six-year career with postseason success. The 29-year-old is having somewhat of a down year at the plate, but he’s five home runs away from yet another 20 home run season. He’s also under team control through 2026.
What prospects are untouchable or available in a potential deal?
Bowden listed Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, Aidan Miller and Mick Abel as prospects that are unlikely to be included in any deal.
The former GM named shortstop prospects Starlyn Caba and Bryan Rincon as well as outfield prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. as players who could be included in a package for Arozarena. He also suggested lower pitching prospects Alex McFarlane and Christian McGowan to include in a potential four-player package with Rojas.
The most intriguing player mentioned by Bowden other than Rojas would have to be Caba. The 18-year-old shortstop is a switch hitter with high contact ability, speed and excellent defensive skills. He has all the skills necessary to be a big-league shortstop.
Rincon is similar in many ways to Caba except he doesn't have quite the same speed. Both players have above-average defensive skills and limit their strikeouts at the plate. Although the 20-year-old has good contact ability, the Phillies organization would like to see Rincon's overall production at the plate improve moving forward.
Rincones Jr., McFarlane and McGowan are the more major league-ready players. They're each 23 or 24 years old with expected major league arrivals in either the 2025 or 2026 seasons.
Caba, Rincon and Rincones Jr. are the Phillies’ No. 4, No. 7 and No. 9 prospects respectively whereas McFarlane and McGowan are No. 14 and No. 15.
It remains to be seen how aggressive Dombrowski will be at the deadline, but he does have options to give this team a shot at a World Series Championship in 2024.