Trade Idea Sees Philadelphia Phillies Acquiring Another Star From Division Rivals

Trade Proposal Suggests Philadelphia Phillies Targeting Another Star From Division Rival

In this trade suggestion, the Philadelphia Phillies could once again secure a star player from their division rival, the Miami Marlins. The old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” seems to apply here, as the Phillies have seen significant success with trades involving the Marlins in recent years.

In 2019, the Phillies acquired J.T. Realmuto in a deal that sent prospects Sixto Sanchez, Jorge Alfaro, and Will Stewart to Miami—a trade widely considered a win for Philadelphia. The outcome of this offseason’s Jesus Luzardo trade is still to be determined, but if Luzardo proves to be a key part of the rotation for the next two years, the Phillies will likely view that deal favorably as well.

Building on these successful trades, Jacob Mountz of FanSided suggests the Phillies should pursue another Marlins star this winter: Jesus Sanchez.

Mountz highlights Sanchez’s impressive stats, noting that Baseball Savant ranks his bat speed, hard hit percentage, and average exit velocity in the elite 90th percentile. He also barrels the ball 12.2% of the time, placing him in the 80th percentile, making him a prime breakout candidate. Mountz believes that Sanchez’s potential would thrive even more in Philadelphia.

This move would add another intriguing option to the outfield, even after the Phillies signed Max Kepler to a one-year deal to play left field. While the Phillies have been linked to Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox as a potential power-hitting outfielder with multiple years of control, Sanchez could provide similar power and likely come at a lower cost.

Although Sanchez’s career OPS+ stands at 98 and his defensive bWAR is -0.2, the Phillies don’t necessarily need a top-tier hitter or defender for their outfield. After recent seasons of inconsistent production, they simply need reliable outfielders who can contribute offensively.

As Mountz points out, this could be a buy-low opportunity for Sanchez. His advanced metrics suggest he could be on the verge of a breakout, and if that happens, adding him to the outfield could strengthen that part of the team, especially with Nick Castellanos bouncing back after early struggles and Brandon Marsh continuing to improve.