OF Lane Thomas and RHP Kyle Finnegan, Washington Nationals
It may feel like a drop-off compared to the previous blockbusters, but the Washington Nationals' duo of Lane Thomas and Kyle Finnegan will be no slouch when it comes to filling the Phillies’ needs.
Thomas seems like a downgrade from Robert and Rooker, but he actually brings something that neither of the other two can: valuable positional flexibility. Thomas has had ample experience playing in all three outfield positions, whereas Robert has played mainly in center while Rooker has mainly been a DH. Therefore, he would give the Phillies plenty of lineup options down the stretch.
Thomas had a strong 2023 season, in which he hit 28 home runs and drove in 86 runs in 156 games. He may be struggling to replicate those numbers this year, but perhaps a change of scenery could help kickstart his bat. One thing that has remained, though, is his speed on the basepaths, already with a career-high 24 stolen bases.
As for Finnegan, he has established himself as one of the top closers in the game this season. He's currently third in the league in saves with 26. With career bests in ERA (2.43) and WHIP (1.03) with 42 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings of work, Finnegan has been able to accomplish it without a mesmerizing triple-digit fastball. He is also a big reason why the Nationals are somehow still within 5.0 games of a Wild Card.
The slight drop-off in the overall impact of this package may work in the Phillies’ favor because it would mean the prospects package that they offer doesn’t need to be as crazy as the previous two. Something along the lines of a top positional prospect among the likes of Caba or Gabriel Rincones Jr., and a top pitching prospect not named Painter should be enough to get the deal done.