The Philadelphia Phillies are guaranteed to be buyers ahead of the Major League Baseball trade deadline in July.
Philadelphia is one of the best teams in baseball despite being second to the New York Mets in the National League East division. With a 37-24 record, the Phillies are only a game and a half back from the division lead and surely will look to upgrade their roster as they look to make a playoff push in the second half of the season.
Though adding to their bullpen is likely a top priority, according to FanSided’s Lior Lampert, one interesting player who would be a perfect trade candidate for the Phillies would be Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward.
“The Philadelphia Phillies are on a shortlist of teams that are considered surefire buyers leading up to this year’s MLB trade deadline,” Lampert wrote. “While fixing their messy bullpen situation is priority No. 1, an outfield bat isn’t too far down the list. However, Philadelphia can make a low-risk move that could give them some much-needed outfield depth courtesy of the Los Angeles Angels à la Taylor Ward.”
“The veteran slugger has been slumping at the plate for much of this season, but reminded everyone of the power he possesses on Wednesday. Moreover, another appealing aspect about Ward is that he’s under club control through 2026. The Phillies can view him as a rental with benefits, offering room to become an established piece of their lineup.”
Ward has spent his entire eight-season career with the Angels, but has only played 100 games or more for the organization twice. The 31-year-old is slashing .214/.265/.752 this season and is on track to hit the most home runs in a season in his career, already mashing 17.
Philadelphia’s outfield has been lacking in offensive production and could use a slugger like Ward to add some firepower at the position. The Angels are a franchise that could be a buyer or seller at the trade deadline, but if they’re willing to part ways with Ward, the Phillies should bring in the veteran outfielder.
