Phillies predicted to trade for $426M 9-time Silver Slugger, 3-time MVP to bolster batting lineup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Phillies had a forgettable start to the season, as they once held the worst record in Major League Baseball at 8-16. Philadelphia now sits at 35-30, and it has been quite the journey to reach this point.
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Just one month into the season, the Phillies made a difficult decision that has seemingly paid off. Philadelphia fired manager Rob Thomson.
“There’s a major shakeup in Philadelphia. The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson on Tuesday morning. Don Mattingly is the interim skipper, with the team’s press release saying he’ll hold that position for the remainder of the 2026 season,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Anthony Franco wrote.
At times, the biggest problem for Philadelphia has been its offense and inability to consistently produce runs. The Phillies lineup has struggled to come through in clutch situations.
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“The offense the Phillies have been trotting out this season has been putrid at worst, average at best. You know this is something that can be state with almost factual intent when people get excited about the team scoring six runs on Wednesday. There have been a few spurts here and there of competence,” The Good Phight’s Ethan Witte wrote.
At the trade deadline, the focus will likely be on adding another powerful bat to the lineup. Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly believes Philadelphia could pursue Mike Trout.
“We’re inclined to think Trout won’t want to be traded, but if he does, the Phillies might become the most likely landing spot given that the Millville, NJ native grew up as a Phillie sports fan,” Kelly wrote.
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A trade for Trout would be a major addition for the Phillies. When healthy, Trout has been one of the most dominant hitters in baseball. He has put together a Hall of Fame-caliber career, with a World Series championship remaining one of the few accomplishments missing from his résumé.
Trout is currently on a $426 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. Philadelphia would welcome a player of his caliber as it looks to maximize its championship window. Veterans like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Trea Turner will do whatever it takes to bring another World Series title to Philadelphia.