The Philadelphia Phillies have bounced back from a concerning season low point to win two series in a row.
After getting swept by the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates amid some injury concerns for franchise slugger Bryce Harper, the Phillies have rallied to take two of three from the Chicago Cubs and win their first two games in an ongoing three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays.
But as the championship window for their current core faces a potential final season, they will have to make some additions at the trade deadline. And it seems pretty clear they should be looking for an upgrade in center field.
“You think the Phillies would love to find a center fielder at the deadline?” asked USA Today’s baseball insider Bob Nightengale. “Their center fielders have a .609 OPS, which would rank the lowest at the position in franchise history.”
The Phillies have mostly been platooning Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas at the position, both of whom are strong defenders. But neither has been able to demonstrate significant progress at the plate and as concerns mount around the team’s offense outside of its top sluggers, the Phillies have been predicted to replace their center field platoon with top prospect Justin Crawford.
“Center field has been a revolving door for the Philadelphia Phillies since Shane Victorino was patrolling the position from 2008-13, but they might have a long-term answer in the form of rising prospect Justin Crawford,” per Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter. “Expect him to be untouchable at the trade deadline, and a second-half boon to the Philadelphia roster.”
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Crawford, the son of former All-Star Carl Crawford, has slashed .349/.416/.448 in Triple-A so far this season and has steadily risen through the minors. Though the Phillies don’t face any real urgency to promote Crawford, their struggles in center field and the lack of impact bats available at the trade deadline could mean he’s anointed as a replacement for Marsh or Rojas in the near future.
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