The Phillies’ lineup remains frustratingly top-heavy despite their offseason moves to build a more balanced attack.
Kyle Schwarber leads MLB with six home runs, while Nick Castellanos (136 OPS+) and Bryce Harper (121+) have delivered solid production. But the bottom of the order? It’s been a disaster. Alec Bohm (.331 OPS), Max Kepler (.619), and Brandon Marsh (.439) have contributed almost nothing offensively. That’s why Philadelphia’s offense can go completely cold when the stars aren’t carrying the load — just look at this weekend when they were shut out twice in a series loss to the Cardinals.
Bohm has always been streaky, and Kepler’s shown some patience with seven walks against just 10 strikeouts. But it’s Marsh who seems to need a fresh start. The 27-year-old outfielder put together back-to-back three-WAR seasons in 2023 and 2024 thanks to excellent defense, baserunning and some pop. But his 1-for-13 performance in last year’s NLDS was a big reason for their upset loss to the Mets. Those struggles have carried right into 2025.
What makes Marsh’s situation different now is that the Phillies have Kepler — a player with a similar but stronger all-around profile. Marsh simply doesn’t have a clear role anymore.
Even with his early-season struggles, Marsh’s track record and raw tools give him trade value. Mike Ostrowski of Athlon Sports believes the Phillies could swap him with the Houston Astros for another outfielder who needs a change of scenery.
“This idea calls for an outfielder swap between the two clubs, with Marsh going to Houston and Chas McCormick heading to Philly,” wrote Ostrowski. “This trade would give both clubs better balance in their lineups.”
Phillies fans might remember McCormick for his incredible catch in Game 5 of the World Series, but his performance has dropped significantly over the past two years. He hit just .211 with five homers during an injury-filled 2024 and has been squeezed out of playing time in Houston with rookie Cam Smith’s arrival and Jose Altuve’s move to left field. In Philadelphia, he’d have a clearer path to playing time and add some much-needed right-handed power to the bottom of the order.
The Astros would benefit too. They desperately need left-handed production — just one of their 12 homers this season has come from a lefty. While Yordan Alvarez will eventually get going, their lineup remains too right-handed. Marsh could platoon with right-handed Jake Meyers in center, provide left-handed power, take pressure off the struggling Smith, and serve as a defensive replacement for Altuve late in games.
