The Philadelphia Phillies didn’t just lose in the 2024 Major League Baseball playoffs. They suffered a real setback to their long-term franchise goals.
Since Bryce Harper signed with the Phillies before the 2019 season, the goal has been to win a World Series ring with a roster built around a transcendent superstar. Harper has lived up to his part of the bargain, and the Phillies have been close, but so far, the mission has been a failure.
Losing to the rival New York Mets in four games was a wake-up call. This team isn’t built properly to win championships, and much of that has to do with the construction of the outfield and bottom half of the batting order.
With that in mind, the Phillies could be positioned to make a big trade this winter. And that trade may end up involving one of the most beloved players on the roster for the past few seasons.
Zachary Rotman of FanSided proposed recently that the Phillies could trade outfielder Brandon Marsh, a productive platoon hitter and cult hero among Philadelphia fans, as part of a package to land a middle-of-the-order bat.
“What if the Phillies can find a way to trade Marsh, their No. 8 hitter who can only play against righties, as part of a package for a big bat like Brent Rooker or Luis Robert Jr.?” Rotman said. “That feels like a no-brainer. Marsh won’t get you the star on his own, but he’s an easy player to replace in the lineup and would have a good amount of trade value.”
Marsh, 26, arrived via a midseason trade with the Los Angeles Angels in 2022 and has taken off as a solid hitter and defender at the bottom of the Phillies’ lineup. His wild long hair and beard have made him a fan-favorite in Philadelphia, accompanying his infectious personality.
Unfortunately, Marsh really can’t hit against left-handed pitchers, which makes him tricky to fit in an everyday lineup moving forward. He has a career .582 OPS against lefties, more than 200 points lower than his splits against righties (.787).
Moving Marsh might not be a universally popular move with Phillies fans, but it could be the best way to help the offense in the long run. And if that move ends up resulting in a long-awaited World Series ring, it’s doubtful anyone will be complaining.
