The Philadelphia Phillies have engineered a dramatic reversal of fortune following their dismal 9-19 start to the season, which led to the dismissal of manager Rob Thomson.
Stepping in for Thomson was Don Mattingly, a seasoned skipper previously at the helm of both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins. Under his guidance, the Phillies have surged to a 53-43 mark, pulling within two games of the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves.
Even with that resurgence, however, Philadelphia’s roster carries conspicuous flaws that must be addressed if the club hopes to mount a legitimate bid for its first World Series crown since 2008. The pitching staff could stand to be bolstered on both the starting and relief fronts, and with Adolis García sidelined for the remainder of the season by a lat injury, the outfield also cries out for reinforcement.
The Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, and speculation has been intensifying. Whether the Phillies possess the prospect capital to swing a major deal is debatable, but should they manage one, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan has identified what he calls a “dream match”: Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton.
Buxton, 32, has earned All-Star honors three times, including this season—though he will sit out the Midsummer Classic due to a hip strain. Through 75 games, he is slashing .271 with an impressive .904 OPS, alongside 25 homers and 45 RBIs.
As a right-handed batter, he would plug a glaring offensive gap. Although the Phillies boast potent left-handed bats like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Brandon Marsh, they have managed only a .224 average and .671 OPS against left-handed pitching this year.
Defensively, Buxton captured a Gold Glove in 2017. Philadelphia currently has rookie Justin Crawford manning center field, but he has sat out the past two contests with a knee injury. Crawford is hitting .263 on the season, though he has driven in just 21 runs across 88 games.
Still, Phillies supporters might want to temper any enthusiasm about Buxton landing in the Delaware Valley. Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll recently told MLB.com that a Buxton trade is not in the works.
“We have no plans to trade Byron,” Zoll stated. “It’s not something we’re exploring. It’s not something we plan to explore. We continue to have productive discussions with Byron. I think he was very clear on that point last week. But also just from my seat, from the Twins’ perspective, that’s not something that we plan to explore. Just wanted to hit that head on.”
Buxton also holds a no-trade clause and has shown no inclination to waive it. He has two years remaining on his contract at just over $15.1 million per season.
The Twins, meanwhile, sit at 47-49, third in the American League Central.
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