The Phillies are looking at the same core group for 2026, but they’ve got some holes to fill after losing talent in free agency and missing out on key targets. With an aging roster and Zack Wheeler starting the year on the injured list, Philadelphia needs to get younger while staying competitive.
FanSided’s Christopher Kline has an interesting solution: a trade with the Yankees that would bring in two young talents with serious upside.
The Proposed Deal
Phillies get: OF Jasson Dominguez, RHP Luis Gil
Yankees get: Edmundo Sosa, RHP Orion Kerkering
It’s a trade that makes sense for both sides. The Phillies get younger and add depth, while the Yankees cash in on players who haven’t quite found their footing in the Bronx.
Dominguez posted a .257/.331/.388 slash line last season with 18 doubles, 10 home runs, and 47 RBI across 123 games. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but the 21-year-old has the tools that made him one of baseball’s most hyped prospects.
Where They’d Fit
The way Kline sees it, Dominguez could step right into left field or spend time in Triple-A before eventually taking over for Adolis García. Either way, he’d give the Phillies another young bat in an organization that’s gotten pretty top-heavy with veterans.
This would be a fairly bold gamble for Philadelphia, but for a team in desperate need of more slugging behind Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, there’s appeal to the idea of letting Domínguez test his skills in a new environment.
Gil brings a different kind of value. The 2024 AL Rookie of the Year struggled last season, posting a 4-1 record with a 3.32 ERA across just 11 games and 57 innings. But that’s a small sample size for a guy who’s shown he can handle major league hitters.
With Wheeler’s recovery timeline still uncertain, Gil could slot in as rotation depth or work as a swingman. His stuff might actually play better in shorter bursts if the starter role doesn’t work out.
Risk vs. Reward
Both players come with question marks. Dominguez hasn’t lived up to the prospect hype yet, and Gil’s workload concerns are real. But that’s exactly why a trade like this could work – the Yankees might be willing to move on from guys who haven’t quite clicked, while the Phillies can afford to take some chances.
For Philadelphia, it’s about adding talent while getting younger. They’re not giving up core pieces, and they’re getting two players who could contribute right away or develop into bigger roles down the line.
The clock’s ticking on spring training, and moves like this don’t happen overnight. But if the Phillies are serious about retooling without rebuilding, this is the kind of calculated risk that could pay off big.
