Is Weston Wilson a viable outfield option or a temporary stopgap?

The Philadelphia Phillies have had a rough go of it recently. Now sporting a 3-7 record in their last 10 games dating back to the series before the All-Star break, this is a Phillies team whose offense is in quite a slump right now. When you combine that with the disastrous turn taken by key members of the bullpen, you arrive at a flat Phillies team that has started to lose winnable baseball games in a frustrating fashion.

While the Phillies navigate a tough 19-game stretch against six teams with records of .500 or greater, this is also a time when the Phillies are in the process of trying to figure out what internal candidates will shape the 26-man roster during the final two months of the regular season. With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching on July 30, Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies front office will have their work cut out for them as they evaluate what direction this team should take heading into the final stretch run.

The task of reshaping the roster got started on July 12 when the Phillies announced the release of three-time All-Star Whit Merrifield. Merrifield, who signed an $8 million free agent contract to fill a super-utility role for the team this season, hit only .199 in 53 games and never got it going despite being given opportunities. Having seen enough, the Phillies decided to cut bait with Merrifield and recalled infielder/outfielder Weston Wilson to take his place on the roster.

Is Weston Wilson a viable outfield option or a temporary stopgap?

Phillies fans are familiar enough with Wilson by now. His strong Triple-A numbers, right-handed bat and ability to play all over the field were certainly factors in choosing to ride with Wilson over Merrifield. Wilson was the first man up as the Phillies wanted to see what they had ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

With the Phillies' acquisition of outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, Wilson's role going forward is a bit unclear, though it wouldn't be a shock to see the Phillies play Wilson over Johan Rojas. Just like with Merrifield, the Phillies have given Rojas a long leash to prove his worth to the ball club this season, and with the exception of playing solid defense, he hasn't done much at the plate with a .233 batting average, three home runs and 23 RBI in 236 at-bats.

Wilson has done a decent job in his two stints with the Phillies this year, batting .227 with five hits, one home run and three RBI in 22 at-bats. Is that enough for the Phillies to skip the trade market and anoint Wilson as Marsh's platoon partner in left field? Probably not.

While Philadelphia sports fans love an underdog story, this is a Phillies team that has legit title hopes on the line this season. Following two consecutive failures on the big stage in the bright lights of October, the Phillies owed it to the team and the fans to add an established outfielder with a track record of success before the deadline comes to an end next Tuesday. Yesterday, they got their man.

With just three games left before Tuesday's deadline, time's ticking away for fringe players like Wilson to make a case for a roster spot. Every season has that one player you didn't expect to become an integral part of the team. Is Wilson that player this season?