In order to acquire some of the players who might be traded during the Winter Meetings, which players would the Phillies need to trade?
Many signings and trades happen during the Winter Meetings, which are held in Nashville, Tennessee, from December 3–6. With Aaron Nola’s re-signing earlier in November, the Philadelphia Phillies aren’t expected to be as busy at the Winter Meetings as other teams.
The Phillies’ front office has changed things up a bit at the Winter Meetings over the years. Consider the 1978 signing of Pete Rose or the 1974 trade of Tug McGraw to the New York Mets. Zack Wheeler, the team’s current ace, signed a contract with the Mets during the 2019 Winter Meetings. Most recently, Trea Turner, a free agent shortstop, and Philadelphia reached an agreement on an 11-year, $300 million contract during the 2022 Winter Meetings.
If Dombrowski’s remarks during the Nola re-signing are any guide, the Phillies are expected to make very small moves for the rest of the offseason and are unlikely to trade for any of these players.
But could Philadelphia shock everyone with a blockbuster trade and make a big impression at the Winter Meetings for the second year running? In order to acquire five players who have been linked to trade rumors in the run-up to the Winter Meetings, let’s examine who the Phillies would need to deal.
While adding any of these five players to the roster would be exciting for Philadelphia right now, their president of baseball operations ought to give careful thought to how much of the team’s elite prospect pool they are willing to part with.
Randy Arozarena, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
The Phillies may be looking to upgrade their outfield as Johan Rojas might begin the upcoming season back in the minor league system, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. A few weeks ago, trade rumors surrounding Nick Castellanos surfaced because of his inconsistent play during the playoffs. The organization, however, refuted these rumors, seeing him as a vital member of their team for the upcoming seasons.
In an attempt to acquire star outfielder Randy Arozarena, the Tampa Bay Rays are open to hearing trade proposals. For Tampa Bay, one of GQ’s 2023 Men of the Year had a strong season in a few offensive categories. In 2023, he recorded new career highs in walks (80), home runs (23), and runs (95). His 22 stolen bases were 10 less than his career-high of 32, and his 83 RBI were six less than his 89 total in 2022.
He has three full seasons in the majors following his breakout campaign during the 2020 postseason. During the playoffs in that COVID-19 pandemic-abbreviated season, Arozarena had 14 RBI in 20 contests. He had a slash line of .377/.442/.831 and his 10 home runs remain the most by a player in a single postseason.
What would the Rays want to get in return for the outfielder, who is 28 years old? A great deal. Before he becomes a free agent after the 2026 season, he is still under team control for three more years. The Philadelphia 76ers are hoping to win a championship within their current championship window. Given his success in the postseason for Tampa Bay, the charismatic Arozarena would probably be a key member of a Phillies World Series-winning team.
Abel and other Phillies minor-league pitchers could be of interest to the Rays. The second-ranked prospect from Philadelphia, who was with the Reading Fightin Phils at Double-A, had a 4.14 ERA in 22 starts. With the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Triple-A, he concluded the season.
Justin Crawford was an outfielder for the Clearwater Threshers who played 69 games at Single-A. Prior to being promoted to the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws, he had a slash line of.344/.399/.478. The 19-year-old’s success kept up as he finished 18 games with a.288/.366/.425 line. In the 2024 season, he might receive a promotion to Double-A once more. The Rays would show interest in him as well.
Due to trade rumors, Rays outfielder Manuel Margot might also be wearing a different uniform when the next season begins. Would Johan Rojas be of interest to Tampa Bay? When Rojas joined the Phillies in mid-July of last season, he made an immediate impact on defense for the team.
But with a slash line of.093/.114/.163 in the postseason, Rojas was a terrible hitter. The 23-year-old might start with the IronPigs in 2024 in order to hone his offensive skills rather than guaranteeing a spot with the Phillies.
Another young outfielder who has shown promise with Philadelphia since joining the team at the 2022 Trade Deadline is Brandon Marsh, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels. With a slash line of.277/.372/.458 the previous season, he demonstrated his offensive ability in addition to being a good defensive player. During the 2023 playoffs, he had a.342/.405/.526 line in 38 at-bats. For a player of Arozarena’s caliber, the availability of Rojas or the youthful, dynamic outfielder would be brought up.
Corbin Burnes, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
Over the past four years, Corbin Burnes has established himself as one of baseball’s top starting pitchers. The 29-year-old has a 2.86 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP since the beginning of 2020.
Over the past four years, the Milwaukee Brewers ace has been among the best pitchers in terms of strikeout totals; only Zack Wheeler has more Wins Above Replacement than Burnes during that time.
The Phillies would be much better off with Burnes in the lineup, giving them a chance to challenge for the best rotation in baseball next season, led by Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and the winner of the National League Cy Young Award in 2021.
Milwaukee might be going through a rebuilding/retooling phase after losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the playoffs this year. Craig Counsell, the organization’s former manager, left to join the Chicago Cubs, a division rival. With one more season before he becomes a free agent, Burnes could be dealt this winter or at the 2024 Trade Deadline if the Brewers are not expected to make the playoffs the following year.
The Phillies would be much better off with Burnes in the lineup, giving them a chance to challenge for the best rotation in baseball next season, led by Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and the winner of the National League Cy Young Award in 2021.
Milwaukee might be going through a rebuilding/retooling phase after losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the playoffs this year. Craig Counsell, the organization’s former manager, left to join the Chicago Cubs, a division rival. With one more season before he becomes a free agent, Burnes could be dealt this winter or at the 2024 Trade Deadline if the Brewers are not expected to make the playoffs the following year.
For the Phillies last season, Cristopher Sánchez maintained his respectable performance level as a middle- or bottom-of-the-rotation pitcher. This season, he combined for 99 1/3 innings pitched with 96 strikeouts and a 1.05 WHIP. Batters combined for a.235 average against the left-hander, who had a 3.44 ERA.
Toward the end of the regular season, Orion Kerkering was promoted to the Phillies. He started with the Clearwater Threshers, Philadelphia’s Single-A affiliate, last season. After advancing swiftly through the team’s minor league system, he made his Major League debut on September 24.
The fourth-ranked prospect in the Philadelphia organization, Aidan Miller, played well for the team’s rookie-level affiliate, the Florida Complex League Phillies. At this level, he had a slash line of.414/.528/.483 at the end of the season. He played for the High-A Clearwater Threshers, where his line was.216/.341/.297.
The Phillies could acquire Corbin Burnes in the following manner:
Received by the Phillies: RHP Corbin Burnes
LHP Cristopher Sánchez, RHP Orion Kerkering, RHP Mick Abel, and 3B are given to the Brewers. Aidan Miller
Philadelphia would be wise to hold off and see if they can acquire the right-hander at next year’s Trade Deadline should he become available. The cost may be less than trading for him this offseason, weakening their farm system, which is not among the strongest to begin with. They could always decide to try and sign him if he reaches free agency next winter.
Seattle Mariners’ Logan Gilbert, SP
Logan Gilbert, who spent his first three Major League seasons with the Seattle Mariners, showed promise as a pitcher in the top two spots of a starting rotation. After pitching 190 2/3 innings in 32 starts in 2023, the 26-year-old only had 36 walks.
The lowest WHIP of his career was 1.08. Gilbert’s innings pitched last year were the most of his Seattle career to date. In his three seasons with the Mariners, the right-hander has struck out the most batters (189) and has the lowest average against (.233) this season.
The depth of the Mariners’ pitching staff is lacking in hitting. With four years left on his club contract, Gilbert will command a high asking price from Seattle. But given that the native of Winter Park, Florida, might get even better in the future, the expense might be justified. A starter who can be used in the middle of the rotation and still produce numbers that would make him a top-two pitcher is what the Phillies would get.
Although a trade of Gilbert this winter is not guaranteed, the Mariners would likely want to receive some of a team’s top prospects in exchange for the gifted young right-hander. The Phillies would have to give up a lot of their best young players, just like they did to get Burnes, in order to get one of Seattle’s starters.
The Phillies might make the following trade to acquire Logan Gilbert:
Phillies are given Logan Gilbert, a RHP.
RHP Mick Abel, OF Justin Crawford, OF Orion Kerkering, and OF Johan Rojas are received by the Mariners.
Dylan Cease, SP, Chicago White Sox
In the run-up to the Winter Meetings, trade rumors have often mentioned Dylan Cease. This offseason, the Chicago White Sox will probably deal him; the only question at this point is where. Since 2021, the right-hander has been among the top starters in strikeout totals. After the 2022 season, he was named the American League’s runner-up for the Cy Young Award.
After finishing the season with a 2.20 ERA, he somewhat regressed this year, finishing with a 4.58 ERA. From 1.11 in 2022 to 1.42 in 2023, Cease’s WHIP increased. This season, batters’ average against him was.250. This was a considerable improvement over the.190 average that opposing offenses had against him in the previous two years, as well as the.223 average that the 27-year-old faced in 2021.
The White Sox want a respectable return in exchange for Cease, given his positive traits over the last three seasons and the fact that clubs constantly need starting pitching in the regular season. He will be managed by the team through the end of 2025.
The No. 5 prospect for the Phillies, Griff McGarry, performed well this season at Double-A with the Reading Fightin Phils. In 13 starts, he pitched 54 2/3 innings with a 3.13 ERA. He did not fare well in his three starts with the IronPigs, though. Before moving up to the Majors, he will require a lot more time at the Triple-A level.
Cease would make a fantastic third or fourth starter for the Philadelphia Phillies. In return for the 27-year-old, the White Sox are seeking a few young prospects and major league players.
The Phillies could make the following trade to acquire Dylan Cease:
Phillies receive: RHP Dylan Cease
White Sox receive: LHP Cristopher Sánchez, RHP Mick Abel, RHP Griff McGarry, OF Justin Crawford
Juan Soto, OF, San Diego Padres
Juan Soto is among the best additions teams could make this offseason, along with free agent Shohei Ohtani. The outfielder bounced back in 2023, putting up expected numbers, after a challenging 2022 season that saw trade rumors swirl before he was traded from the Washington Nationals to the San Diego Padres. With 32 doubles, he tied his career high and hit 35 home runs, posting a slash line of.275/.410/.519.
Soto led the league with 132 walks, further demonstrating why he is among the best in the league at getting on base. With 109 RBI, he was tied for fourth place with Ozzie Albies, and among hitters, his.929 OPS ranked eighth.
At just 25 years old, the Padres outfielder is a rare talent. In order to keep him from becoming a free agent in the following offseason, a club that trades for him as anticipated this winter ought to give serious thought to extending a multi-year contract offer.
Soto is a great player who could help the Phillies win a championship, but they don’t really need him in the outfield. His placement in the lineup—hitting after Trea Turner and either ahead of or behind Bryce Harper—would be a huge asset to Philadelphia.
In 2018, the four-time Silver Slugger Award winner played in Washington, D.C., alongside Harper and Turner. During the Nationals’ historic postseason run that resulted in the team’s first World Series championship in 2019, Soto and the Phillies shortstop were teammates.
After trading a number of prospects to acquire Soto in 2022, San Diego is now searching for both minor league talent and players who are ready for the big leagues. Similar to the prior trade suggestions, the Phillies might only be able to sign the Dominican phenom for a single season if they are able to trade for him. Scott Boras represents Soto, and in order to maximize their value, his clients usually become free agents. Bryce Harper achieved this when he signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with Philadelphia in February 2019.
Here’s how the Phillies might acquire Juan Soto in a trade:
Phillies receive: OF Juan Soto
Padres receive: LHP Cristopher Sánchez, OF Johan Rojas, RHP Mick Abel, RHP Griff McGarry, 3B Aidan Miller