The Philadelphia Phillies could find themselves in a buyer’s market as MLB’s trade deadline approaches, with more teams expected to sell than buy this summer. That’s good news for a Phillies club that’s been hunting for the right pieces to make a championship push.
Philadelphia’s been targeting a right-handed hitting outfielder for a few years now. If the Chicago Cubs decide to sell, there’s one name that keeps coming up in trade conversations.
Seiya Suzuki fits what the Phillies are looking for on paper. The right-handed outfielder has launched 96 home runs over four and a half MLB seasons while posting a solid 128 career OPS+. Those numbers suggest he can handle big league pitching.
But there’s a catch this season.
“In theory, Seiya Suzuki should have more value than Ian Happ, but I’m just not sure I buy that at the moment. Suzuki looks generally lost at the plate this year, especially in key/big moments. In fact, he’s been one of the least clutch players in baseball,” Michael Cerami wrote.
The Phillies would need to decide if they’re comfortable with Suzuki’s defense in right field. He’s not the worst outfielder you’ll see, but he’s definitely below average out there. That could create problems in October when every play matters.
What makes this complicated is the package it’ll take to land him.
Suzuki’s track record means other contenders will be interested too. The Phillies front office has to weigh whether they’re willing to part with the prospects it’ll likely take to get a deal done. With his power potential and right-handed bat, Suzuki won’t come cheap if the Cubs start shopping him seriously.
