The Philadelphia Phillies might have the second-most wins in baseball, but the team has been stumbling since the trade deadline passed.
Their record since June 1, 2024, is just over .500 and they trail six other National League teams in total wins since then. Reflecting on the trades the front office might wish it had made before the deadline passed, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller pointed to an underwhelming outfield acquisition as the biggest missed opportunity.
“It’s still baffling that Philadelphia’s trade deadline solution to its outfield problem was trying to buy low on Austin Hays,” he wrote. “Hays did hit a grand slam in what still ended up being a 12-inning loss to the (New York) Yankees, but he otherwise has just one RBI since his arrival on July 27.”
Meanwhile, the Yankees landed the outfield prize of the deadline in a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins for Jazz Chisholm Jr. Had the Phillies been the ones to land Chisholm, their recent record might be much better.
“If the Phillies had been the ones to swing a deal for Jazz Chisholm Jr., they’d probably be the World Series favorites right now,” Miller added.
Hays, who was recently placed on the 10-day injured list with a kidney infection, has slashed .254/.275/.373 with one homer and two stolen bases since joining the Phillies. Chisholm has slashed .316/.350/.596 with nine homers and 12 stolen bases for the Yankees.
Of course, the Yankees relinquished two prospects ranked within the top 20 of their farm system plus infielder Abrahan Ramirez for their trade deadline prize. The Phillies added Hays in exchange for struggling outfielder Cristian Pache and veteran reliever Seranthony Domínguez, protecting their farm system much more than they might have in a deal for Chisholm.
Still, if the Phillies could have meaningfully fortified their World Series chances at the deadline with Chisholm and failed to do so, it’s a miss that might come back to haunt them.
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