There are no perfect teams in Major League Baseball, but in 2024, the Philadelphia Phillies are the closest thing we have.
They've got the star talent. They've got the dominant starting pitching. They've got playoff experience and amazing chemistry. But there's still one obvious hole.
Philadelphia has struggled to find production from its center fielders all season long, with both Johan Rojas and Cristian Pache dangerously close to losing their roster spots. Both have on-base percentages and slugging percentages below .300, an unacceptable mark for MLB hitters.
As the trade deadline fast approaches, then, it's no surprise to see the Phillies aggressively pursuing center fielders from other big-league clubs.
The Phillies have repeatedly been linked to the Chicago White Sox's Luis Robert Jr., the Miami Marlins' Jazz Chisholm, and the Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger. But MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic added one more surprise name to the list.
In his assessment of where all 30 teams stand heading into the All-Star break, Bowden reported that the Phillies have been linked to rookie center fielder Jacob Young of the Washington Nationals.
"It will be surprising if they don’t land a center fielder by the trade deadline," Bowden said of the Phillies.
Young, 24, would be a surprise candidate to be moved purely because he is still breaking into the big leagues, with 115 games played between 2023 and 2024. But it also makes sense from Washington's perspective.
Not only do the Nationals have James Wood, the No. 2 overall MLB prospect who was called up on July 1, but No. 4 overall prospect Dylan Crews is right behind him in the pipeline. Both are expected to man the outfield in Washington for years to come, making Young expendable.
This season, Young is slashing .255/.314/.317, with just one home run. But he has still been worth 2.0 wins above replacement, thanks to 20 stolen bases and superb defense in center field.
Though it's rare to see division rivals trade position players, especially Young's age, it's possible a move like this could be mutually beneficial. But it's also outside the box, and both sides would have to weigh the potential risks of dealing a player whose upside still isn't quite known.
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