The 2024 Major League Baseball season is ending with the World Series set to begin on Friday. Pending free agents can re-sign with their current teams the day after the World Series ends, and players can sign with other teams five days after the World Series ends.
The rumor mill will heat up within the next few weeks, so what does that mean for the Philadelphia Phillies? President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has already stated that the organization isn’t necessarily looking to add any star players but did mention that the outfield situation for 2025 is up in the air.
Ranking available free agent left fielders for Phillies to target heading into 2025
The outfield was a weakness for the Phillies in 2024, particularly in center and left field. Brandon Marsh was inconsistent and Austin Hays, who was acquired at the trade deadline, couldn’t stay healthy. There are a plethora of left field options available in free agency if Dombrowski decides to go that route. Here are six options that the Phillies could target:
No. 6: Tommy Pham
Tommy Pham signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Chicago White Sox this year. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals ahead of the deadline and later placed on waivers after appearing in just 23 games. He was claimed by the Kansas City Royals for the final stretch of the season.
The 36-year-old has been in the league for 11 years and has a .258 career batting average. He hit over 20 home runs three times in his career. Pham is versatile and has experience playing all three outfield positions. He has a career .315 postseason batting average in 130 at-bats, including a .333 average in 2024.
Pham is nearing the end of his career and is projected to sign a one-year, $2.4 million contract. He could be a solid, cheap one-year rental for the Phillies.
No. 5: Mark Canha
Mark Canha could be another cheap one-year rental for the Phillies. Canha signed a two-year, $26.5 million contract with the New York Mets before the 2022 season and was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers ahead of the 2023 deadline.
He was traded again to the Detroit Tigers at the end of last season and had his option picked up. The San Francisco Giants acquired him at this year’s trade deadline.
The 10-year veteran spent his first seven years in Oakland before all the movement in the last three years. Canha is a career .249 hitter with 120 career home runs. He notably hit .275 against left-handed pitching in 2024.
Canha is versatile enough to play either corner outfield spot and first base. The 35-year-old is projected to sign a one-year, $2.5 million contract.
No. 4: Alex Verdugo
Alex Verdugo was a second-round pick in 2014 and made his major league debut in 2017 with the Los Angeles Dodgers where he spent the first three years of his career. He spent the next four years with the Boston Red Sox where he hit .281 with 43 home runs and 206 RBI.
Verdugo joined the New York Yankees for the 2024 season and has struggled. He slashed .233/.291/.356 with a .647 OPS during the regular season and has just six hits in 31 at-bats during the postseason this year.
He’s versatile and can play all three outfield positions, but he’s another left-handed bat to go with Marsh in left field. The Phillies could take a chance on the 28-year-old’s potential, but it might be wise to stay away from his projected $15.2 million annual salary.
No. 3: Jurickson Profar
Jurickson Profar is an 11-year veteran who finally seemed to put it all together in 2024 after once being baseball’s top prospect. The 31-year-old was named an All-Star for the San Diego Padres and was a key piece in their playoff push.
Profar slashed .280/.380/.459 with an .839 OPS, 29 doubles, 24 home runs and 85 RBI this year. He’s a switch-hitter who hit .300 against lefties and .273 against right-handed pitching.
The concern is if he can replicate those numbers. Profar is a career .245 hitter and has been under the .240 mark six times. The Phillies might want to stay away from his $12.9 million expected annual salary.
No. 2: Michael Conforto
Michael Conforto is a name Phillies fans are accustomed to hearing. The former first-round pick spent the first seven years of his career with the Mets and was an All-Star in 2017. He’s spent the last two years with the Giants.
Conforto’s numbers didn’t pop out in 2024, but he hit 20 home runs. Most notably, he hit .284 against left-handed pitching as a left-handed hitter. His power came against right-handed pitching as he hit 38 of his 50 extra-base hits.
Conforto is projected to sign a one-year, $4.7 million contract, but teams could look to give the 31-year-old a chance on a multi-year deal.
No. 1: Tyler O’Neill
Tyler O’Neill was selected No. 85 overall in the 2013 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut with the Cardinals in 2018 and spent his first six years there. He joined the Red Sox in 2024 and enjoyed a solid season.
O’Neill slashed .241/.336/.511 with an .847 OPS, 18 doubles, 31 home runs and 61 RBI this year. He’s a two-time Gold Glove winner and can play both corner outfield positions. He’s a right-handed bat who hit .313 against left-handed pitching in 2024.
The 29-year-old’s expected annual salary is $16.2 million, but he’s the guy to go after if the Phillies want to make a splash at the left field position in free agency.
Final consensus on available free agent left fielders for Phillies to target heading into 2025
The Phillies could use an upgrade in left field, but the organization shouldn’t sign a player just for the heck of it. It needs to make sense lineup-wise and for the future.
Marsh and Hays should both be back in 2025, and Weston Wilson could compete for some time once again. It’s also important to think about top outfield prospect Justin Crawford’s future when deciding whether or not to sign a player to a multi-year deal.
If adding Juan Soto is off the table, it might make the most sense to head into 2025 with the same outfield group as 2024.