DEAL SEALED: Phillies Have Officially and Successfully Traded Their Top -10 prospect For MLB MVP Baseman To Replace Bryce Harper Amid His Injury Crisis and Future Uncertainty

If the Cubs decide to trade him, where will he wind up? Would the Philadelphia Phillies be a viable option for the 2019 National League MVP Award winner? Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report outlined ten potential landing locations for the lefty slugger. He ranked the Phillies second and proposed this potential trade:

Phillies get: centerfielder/first baseman. Cody Bellinger
Cubs acquire catcher Eduardo Tait.

Tait is the Phillies’ eighth-best prospect this season, per MLB.com. He’s still a long way from reaching the majors. Tait is 17 years old and presently plays Rookie Ball.

However, due to Bellinger’s contract, the Cubs will most likely have little negotiating power in trade talks. He’ll make $30 million in 2024 after signing a three-year, $80 million contract this summer. Bellinger can opt out after 2024 and 2025 if he so wishes. As a result, interested teams will likely view Scott Boras’ client as a half-season loan.

Bellinger Would Give the Phillies a Versatile Upgrade.
Although Bellinger’s start to 2024 hasn’t been as strong as his resurgent 2023 season, it would still be a significant lift for the Phillies. The 28-year-old is a hitter.267/.327/.416 with nine home runs, 13 doubles, 34 RBI, and 34 runs scored in 309 plate appearances.

Phillies centre fielders have cut their numbers as a group.This season, he has a 234/.289/.318 batting line with four home runs, 28 RBI, and 36 runs. According to FanGraphs, the 0.9 fWAR they’ve earned at that position ranks 17th in baseball.

The Phillies’ current roster situation makes the potential acquisition of Bellinger much more appealing. Kyle Schwarber (strained groin) and Bryce Harper (hamstring strain) are both out due to injuries. This caused Kody Clemens and Whit Merrifield to spend more time at first base and in the outfield.

Adding Bellinger to the mix would provide Phillies manager Rob Thomson with additional flexibility when deciding on his lineup each night. Although Bellinger has played 42 games in centre field this season, he has also played first base 13 times, right field 12 times, designated hitter 10 times, and left field once.

The Phillies were connected to Bellinger. Dave Dombrowski, President of Baseball Operations, did not make any moves this winter, other for re-signing starter Aaron Nola. The chance existed in February, however.

Bellinger and Boras were looking for a long-term agreement for at least $200 million. It never occurred, and he re-signed with the Cubs in February, shortly after spring training began.

Prior to that, the Phillies were considered a potential “sleeper” for his services, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today on February 4.

“Several executives think the Philadelphia Phillies could be a sleeper for one of the remaining marquee free agents in starter Jordan Montgomery or centre fielder Cody Bellinger,” he told reporters. “Their lone big move has been re-signing Aaron Nola, and Bellinger certainly would provide Gold Glove-caliber defence and another bat to balance the lineup.”

So it looks that Philadelphia had previously expressed interest in Bellinger. The club hopes to climb over the hurdle and return to the World Series this October. Finding a method to get the left-handed slugger to the City of Brotherly Love would most certainly boost those prospects without requiring a long-term financial commitment.