The Philadelphia Phillies have been actively searching for outfield help as the trade deadline rapidly approaches. As a result, they have been linked to various attractive trade candidates across the league.
However, according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Phillies are out of the running for three trade deadline outfield options. Nightengale claims that the Phillies will be staying away from Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Miami Marlins, Tommy Pham of the Chicago White Sox and even Brent Rooker of the Oakland Athletics as the front office doesn’t see them as good fits for the ballclub.
"The Philadelphia Phillies have no interest in Miami Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm, have shied away from Chicago White Sox outfielder Tommy Pham and don’t believe that Oakland A’s outfielder Brent Rooker is a fit," Nightengale writes.
What would cause the Phillies to back away from these outfielders?
Phillies are crossing off Jazz Chisholm Jr., Tommy Pham and Brent Rooker from their trade deadline outfield options
For Chisholm, it appears to be a wise move on the Phillies' part because, despite his explosiveness, he has had his fair share of injuries in recent years.
He may have the potential to be a solid 25+ home run and 80+ RBI player, but by failing to appear in more than 100 games in each of the past three seasons, health could be a huge concern for the 26-year-old. That would be the last thing that the Phillies needed, after their own run into injuries with many of their star players so far in 2024.
As for Pham, the Phillies look like they are backing out after initially expressing some interest earlier on. With the ability to average about 20 home runs, 60 RBI and 20 stolen bases a season, Pham could have provided some steady run production to an already potent Phillies lineup.
But Pham's defense has become more suspect in 2024, registering a worrisome -10 DRS in the field in just 59 games. That mark is by far the worst of his career. So perhaps at age 36, his legs have caught up to him and would present a huge liability in the field for the Phillies.
In the case of Rooker, he has been one of the hottest hitters in the league in recent weeks. In his past 20 games, he's hitting at a .417 clip, along with a 1.350 OPS, 20 runs scored, five doubles, nine home runs and 23 RBI. We are potentially talking about Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge-level type of production at that pace.
Even prior to his hot streak, Rooker had already proven from his All-Star season last year that he can be a legitimate power bat. His main caveat is the fact that he has seen more time as a designated hitter than in the outfield in recent years. He has only accumulated 130 games in the field so far in his MLB career. With the Phillies looking for someone who can effectively help both in the field and at the plate, Rooker’s limited playing time in the field could be enough to keep Philadelphia away.
Nevertheless, there are still plenty of options still available around the league. One thing is for sure: The Phillies won't let the trade deadline pass without any action if they fully intend to be serious World Series contenders in 2024.