4 Philadelphia Phillies trade targets to boost World Series odds

The Philadelphia Phillies are one of the best teams in baseball this year, sitting near the top of the MLB standings with June fast approaching. However, with the MLB trade deadline a few weeks away, there are a few Phillies trade targets who could make this club even better.

Entering MLB games today , the Phillies lineup is one of the best in baseball and its starting pitching has been even better. With that said, there’s always room to improve and that includes positions that could be addressed on the Phillies roster.

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Let’s dive into a few of our Phillies trade targets for the summer.

Tyler O’Neill, right fielder, Boston Red Sox

It’s possible the Phillies are holding out hope that Nick Castellanos turns things around at the plate. However, even in May, he’s slashed .227/.306/.387 in his first 85 plate appearances . Since the start of the 2023 season, the 32-year-old has just a .741 OPS and .303 OBP. Philadelphia can do a lot better than that, especially since they are already sacrificing defensively.

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Tyler O’Neill is thriving in Boston. The 28-year-old outfielder sports a .248/.358/.525 slash line with 11 home runs and a 139 wRC+ this season. He’s performing at the level we saw in 2021 – .352 OBP, .560 SLG and 143 wRC+ – this time in a contract year. O’Neill would represent a significant upgrade for the Phillies lineup and he’s certainly not worse than Castellanos defensively. Plus, the acquisition cost is lowered because he would only be a half-season rental.

Yusei Kikuchi, starting pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays

Taijuan Walker has struggled in 2024, compiling a 5.06 WHIP and 1.54 ERA in his first 26.2 innings pitched. Maybe he returns to form, but the Phillies also know how tight the race for the No. 1 seed in the National League is going to be. Every game will matter, which is why it makes sense to pursue a rotation upgrade since Philadelphia clearly prefers Spencer Turnbull in the bullpen.

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Yusei Kikuchi is another one of our Phillies trade targets serving as a half-season rental. The 32-year-old southpaw has been outstanding for the Toronto Blue Jays early this season, holding opponents to a .233 batting average with a 1.12 WHIP and a 2.64 ERA in 58 innings. Plus, the 0.62 HR/0, 2.68 expected ERA (xERA) and 20.3 percent K-BB rate all suggest this is legitimate. He should be fairly affordable to acquire and would strengthen the best rotation in baseball.

Hunter Strickland, relief pitcher, Los Angeles Angels

The Phillies bullpen is once again one of this club’s few weaknesses. As of May 24, Philadelphia ranked 21st in bullpen ERA (4.20), 25th in batting average allowed (.245) and 18th in WHIP (1.32). At the very least, this team needs some more reliable arms to go out there in the 7th and 8th innings.

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Hunter Strickland isn’t Mason Miller, not even close, but the Los Angeles Angels reliever has been phenomenal out of the pen this year. Across 21 innings pitched, he holds a 2.14 ERA, 2.33 xERA with a .176 batting average allowed and 0.76 WHIP. If he and Bryce Harper can put their history behind them, Strickland would be an excellent addition to the Phillies bullpen.

Michael Conforto, outfielder, San Francisco Giants

We’re obviously emphasizing a potential replacement or secondary option to Nick Castellanos with our Phillies trade targets. If Tyler O’Neill isn’t available for Philadelphia, then San Francisco Giants outfielder Michael Conforto becomes an intriguing option.

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The left-handed hitter has produced at an All-Star level this season, slashing .280/.331/.490 with a 137 wRC+. Conforto is also on an expiring contract, meaning the price to acquire him is lower in comparison to a hitter with multiple seasons of control. Plus, Conforto might enjoy the opportunity to both compete for a World Series title and regularly face NL East teams again.

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