The Philadelphia Phillies are entering a pivotal season as the championship window for their star players is rapidly closing. With a projected payroll of $284 million, the team is allocating at least $20 million to key figures like Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Zack Wheeler. The upcoming season could be the last opportunity to fully leverage their talents before age starts to take its toll.
Given this, fans may have expected more significant roster moves by this point in the offseason. However, even if the team heads into opening day with its current lineup, Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report predicts the Phillies will make a major trade by the trade deadline.
Kelly highlighted that the current projected opening day lineup includes five left-handed hitters: Max Kepler, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Bryson Stott, and Brandon Marsh. While a player like Weston Wilson could emerge as a viable platoon option in the outfield, the team might need an additional right-handed bat to counter tough left-handed pitchers like Chris Sale, Sean Manaea, and Blake Snell.
With that in mind, Kelly speculated that the Phillies might trade for outfielder Taylor Ward from the Los Angeles Angels.
Ward, who posted a .325 average and an .873 OPS against left-handed pitchers in 2024, would be a strong fit for a platoon role with Kepler in left field. If Kepler struggles or faces injury issues, Ward could even take over the full-time job.
Ward also had a standout season, hitting 25 homers and driving in 75 RBIs, his best year to date. With a reasonable $7.8 million salary in 2025 and another year of arbitration eligibility, Ward is projected to have a market value of $43.7 million. Given his defensive ability, success against left-handed pitching, and financial controllability, Ward appears to be an ideal acquisition for a Phillies team looking to bolster its roster for a playoff push before it’s too late.
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