After re-signing pitcher Aaron Nola to a large contract earlier this offseason, the Phillies will most likely be active in the market, as they are every offseason. On their roster, names have been floated around that could be used in a trade to improve the club as they look to make another deep postseason run in 2024.
Trade: The Angels acquired outfielder Nick Castellanos in exchange for two outfielders.
After a mediocre first season with the Phillies in 2022, Castellanos rebounded in 2023. Slashing .With a batting average of 272/.311/.787, 68 extra-base hits, and 106 RBI, he looked much more like the hitter the Phillies hoped he would be after signing a five-year, $100 million contract with them in March of 2022.
The Phillies don’t need to trade Castellanos because he’ll make $20 million over the next three seasons, but if a deal that improves the team comes up, they’ll listen.
The Angels recently lost slugger Shohei Ohtani to the Los Angeles Dodgers and will likely be looking to replace as much of his production as possible. Castellanos could be exactly what they’re looking for.
Sending Castellanos to the Angels in exchange for outfielders Taylor Ward and Jo Adell not only helps the Phillies’ cap situation, but also adds depth to a thin outfield.
Ward has a.269/.349/.451 slash line with 79 extra-base hits and 112 RBI in 232 games played over the last two seasons.
Adell had a strong year in the minors, hitting 24 home runs in 74 games in Triple-A this season, but he has yet to reach the majors. With a.214/.259/.366 slash line, 18 home runs, and 66 RBI in 178 career MLB games, a change of scenery could be just what he needs to reach his full potential.
A Phillies outfield of Ward, Adell, Brandon Marsh, Kyle Schwarber, and Johan Rojas would allow the team to shift Schwarber to designated hitter while keeping his suspect defensive abilities out of the equation.
Closer inspection of the sign Josh Hader is an actor.
Craig Kimbrel, a relief pitcher, chose to sign with the Baltimore Orioles, leaving a void in Philadelphia’s bullpen. With possibly the most sought-after free-agent relief pitcher in recent memory available, it appears to be a perfect match.
Fresh off a 2023 season in which he converted 33 of 38 save opportunities while posting a 1.28 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 56.1 innings pitched, Hader is looking for a historic deal for a closer and will most likely get it.
Hader, who is only 29 years old, has put up impressive numbers in his seven-year MLB career, converting 165 of 190 save opportunities and striking out 648 batters in 388.2 innings pitched.
If he reaches enough innings by the end of his career, his career 15.01 K/9 will be the highest in MLB history.
Hader is projected to sign a five-year, $87.5M deal with Spotrac’s market value calculator, but he will likely receive a deal closer to $100M, which is another reason why moving on from Castellanos’ $20M annual salary makes sense if you can bring in one of the best closers to take the mound.
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