The Phillies’ cautious offseason approach might be coming back to haunt them.
While they did land starter Jesús Luzardo from Miami, Philadelphia mostly tinkered around the edges despite clear weaknesses that surfaced during their disappointing 2024 season. The rotation remains solid, but the bullpen has taken a step back after losing Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez, and the offense looks stagnant. For Phillies fans, it’s an all-too-familiar feeling.
“The Phillies are, at least through the first month-plus of the 2025 season, a painfully flawed but talented playoff-caliber team,” writes Evan Macy for Philly Voice. “Which is basically what they were last year. And the year before. And the year before…”
To be fair, it’s difficult to make major moves when you’re carrying massive contracts for Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber. But with Brandon Marsh’s brutal start in center field, the front office might be regretting not making a more significant outfield upgrade than Max Kepler.
Marsh has been splitting time with Johan Rojas in center but is hitting just .130 so far this season. That’s simply not cutting it for a team with championship aspirations.
Potential Trade Target Emerges
There might be help on the horizon, according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale.
“If the Baltimore Orioles aren’t a contender by the All-Star break, teams will be pouncing on starter Zach Eflin, reliever Seranthony Dominguez and center fielder Cedric Mullins at the deadline,” Nightengale wrote for USA Today.
While Eflin and Dominguez are familiar faces in Philadelphia, it’s Mullins who could address their biggest weakness at a reasonable price.
The 30-year-old center fielder is slashing .255/.379/.491 with seven homers and a team-leading 18 runs for Baltimore. He’s earning $8.72 million in his final arbitration year, making him an attractive rental target that likely wouldn’t cost premium prospects.
If Marsh’s struggles continue, a Mullins trade makes too much sense for the Phillies to ignore. The question is whether they can stay afloat until the deadline or if they’ll need to make a move sooner.
That’s where the front office’s cautious offseason approach might prove costly. Sometimes the best moves are the ones you make before problems fully materialize – something the Phillies are learning the hard way.
