The Philadelphia Phillies could soon pull the trigger on trading for a new outfielder.
Philadelphia doesn’t have a ton to complain about right now with a nine-game lead in the division at 58-31, the best record in Major League Baseball.
The Phillies are also set to re-activate Kyle Schwarber on Tuesday, which — along with Bryce Harper’s imminent return — will have Philadelphia’s lineup looking like the most dangerous in the league again.
The Phillies look like a nearly flawless club at present, but one position where they are still lacking plate production is left field. Philadelphia is among the bottom five teams in baseball in OPS among left fielders.
The question is, will the Phillies live with this chink in their armor as they prepare for a playoff run, or will they decide to make a move for a left fielder before the deadline? USA Today Sports’ Bob Nightengale considers the latter a distinct possibility.
Nightengale reported on Sunday that the Phillies are closely monitoring Oakland Athletics All-Star outfielder Brent Rooker, which suggests that Philadelphia could deal for the 29-year-old before July 30.
“The Philadelphia Phillies are keeping a close eye on Oakland A’s left fielder Brent Rooker,” Nightengale said. “The Phillies rank 26th in OPS among left fielders this season.”
The Phillies have the look of a serious World Series contender, and while a move for someone like Rooker has the potential to bolster Philadelphia’s plate production, there’s also the risk that adding anyone to an already complete clubhouse could mess with team chemistry.
It will be fascinating to see how the Phillies’ front office handles the next three weeks.
