The first place Philadelphia Phillies are locked and loaded, ready for another deep playoff run after coming short of a title for the past few seasons. However, these same Phillies have a glaring outfield problem.
Nick Castellanos
Starting with right fielder Nick Castellanos, their $100 million dollar man. He has not been what the Phillies have expected out of him as he has currently produced a -0.7 bWAR with a measly .622 OPS and a 76 OPS+. His statcast numbers show no indication of him hitting into any bad luck as he is below average in every single hitting category and providing nothing on defense per usual. With a career 111 OPS+ and a strong season from last season, it would not be a shocker if Castellanos turns it around as he is just 72 games into the season. However, there is no doubt that he has been a liability for the Phillies so far.
Brandon Marsh
Catellanos’ corner outfield buddy Brandon Marsh has been fantastic this year, both at the plate and in left field as he is working on his third consecutive season with an OPS+ above 115. The alarming issue with Marsh however, is his performance against left handed pitching, as he has an OPS under .400 against them. Finding a platoon option will maximize Marsh’s production and limit his at bats versus left handers.
Whit Merrifield
Veteran outfielder Whit Merrifield appears as a suitable platoon option with Marsh due to his reputation, but at the age of 35, it is difficult to see him as anything more than a below average bench bat. In 40 games this season, Merrifield has a 64 OPS+ and a brutal .572 OPS. He has been poor defensively as well with -3 OAA (Outs Above Average), putting him in the 14th percentile. He has been an all around liability for the Phillies this season, but there is one area in the game where he can still provide value: Base running. Merrifield is currently in the 92nd percentile in sprint speed, covering just over 29 feet per second. With how important base running is in the playoffs, bringing him in for late game pinch running situations will be the best way to utilize him.
Cristian Pache
In a very similar situation as Merrifield (although at just 25 years old), Cristian Pache is also a liability on the offensive side of the ball, with a .608 OPS this season. While he is still young, his career .518 OPS shows that this may just be the type of production that is to be expected from Pache. He does however, have an upside over Merrifield as he is a plus defender, with 3 OAA, as well as a sprint speed in the 81st percentile. Out of all Phillies outfielders, Pache is the best option for a late game defensive replacement/pinch running situation come playoff time
David Dahl and Johan Rojas
Newcomer David Dahl has had a couple of big swings, most notably his three-run home run in the London Series, but has been unproductive otherwise with a .667 OPS in limited playing time this season. After a solid stint in the majors in 2023, in where he put up a .772 OPS, 23 year-old centerfielder Johan Rojas has been sent down to Triple-A due to his struggles at the plate, with a .566 OPS. Rojas joins Pache as another young outfielder with standout defense (85th percentile in OAA) and blazing speed (99th percentile in sprint speed) but nothing to show otherwise.
Next Moves
The Phillies have an outfield problem. With all of Philadelphia’s outfielders struggling in one way or another, their focus in this years trade deadline should be outfield help. While many teams are targeting Luis Robert and other big time players, a simple move for a player like Tommy Pham could bolster their lineup even more and solidify them as the best team in MLB.
TL//DR: Phillies outfield
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