Could the Phillies’ next move shake up their infield? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Yesterday at the press conference to introduce Adolis Garcia, PBO Dave Dombrowski said the team’s outfield is “pretty much set.” But there may be a way to upgrade the infield, without overspending.
Advertisement
The Phillies are big spenders. That results in a very talented roster, but very little ability for Dombrowski to make major moves without getting creative when the opportunity presents itself.
An opportunity could be popping up – a holiday miracle at that – from out west.
According to multiple reports, the Arizona Diamondbacks are suddenly interested in third baseman Alex Bregman, widely regarded as the biggest fish in the free agent pond. Signing Bregman will be expensive, meaning the team would have to part with at least one significant contract.
This is where the Phillies come in.
The player mentioned by MLB pundits as potentially expendable by Arizona is switch-hitting second baseman Ketel Marte. If the Phillies truly want to improve their offense, this is where you strike. You may remember Marte as the pest who had 12 hits in the 2023 NLCS against the Phillies, on the way to winning series MVP.
The 32-year-old is the two-time defending NL Silver Slugger at second base, and appears to be firmly in his prime as a hitter. Over the past three seasons, he has hit 89 home runs, most among MLB second basemen by 15, and his .887 OPS over that span ranks ninth among all players. He also hits for average; his .283 mark over the past 3 seasons ranks 17th in MLB.
Advertisement
Marte has batted first or second in recent years, but his value would be in the much-needed protection in the lineup he would provide behind Bryce Harper, which would force teams to pitch Harper honestly, or face Marte with Harper on base.
This is the kind of move that could not only bolster the Phillies’ lineup, but also give it the versatility it sorely lacks in spots.
Marte has five years and $91 million remaining on his contract, with a player option for 2031 at $11.5 million. That’s rich, but not so rich that it should scare Dombrowski off.
He will become a 10-and-5 player early next season, meaning Marte can veto any trade, but according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Marte’s current no-trade list has just five teams on it: the Athletics, the Yankees, Pirates, Giants, and Cardinals.
Advertisement
A Marte trade will likely require the Phillies parting with incumbent second baseman Bryson Stott, who has never lived up to the pure hitter reputation that led to the Phils selecting him 14th overall six years ago. In addition, one or two prospects would need to be included, but not at the tier of Andrew Painter or Aidan Miller. After all, Arizona doesn’t have that kind of leverage in this case.
The Phillies’ No. 5 prospect, infielder Aroon Escobar, is a righty bat with pop that the Diamondbacks need. They are also looking for depth in their rotation, so they could include No. 11 prospect Jean Cabrera, who impressed at AA Reading last season.
This is the kind of move that could pay very big dividends for the Phillies, especially in October, when they need them most.
