After a brutal start to the season that led to them firing Rob Thomson as their manager, the Philadelphia Phillies have been getting things back together. The Phillies have won 11 out of their last 15 games and now have a 20-22 record because of it. While they still have more work to do, they are in a much better spot than they were earlier this season.
Yet, if the Phillies hope to build on their momentum and improve their odds of making the playoffs, they should be looking to add to their roster between now and the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline. They could use more star power in their lineup, and this is especially so when noting that they are four games out of a wild card spot.
Due to this, the Phillies have now been named a potential landing spot for one of baseball’s top stars.
Phillies Named Top Trade Destination for Giants Star Rafael Devers
With the Giants sporting an 18-24 record, it is no secret that they are open to trading their players. They recently dealt catcher Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Guardians, and there is an expectation that more moves could be on the way. Among the Giants who are creating chatter in the rumor mill is Rafael Devers. In fact, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Giants are interested in dealing Devers.
Due to this, FanSided’s Chris Landers recently took a look at three potential landing spots for Devers. The Phillies were among the teams listed by Landers.
“Would Dave Dombrowski, who didn’t sign Devers to the Red Sox but did love him so much in Boston that he refused to include him in Chris Sale trade talks back in the day, be willing to roll the dice in an effort to save his own skin? If this team gets to the All-Star break mired around .500, never say never,” Landers wrote.
The idea of the Phillies trading for Devers is a fascinating one. While he has had a tough season and has an expensive contract, his excellent resume screams that he should bounce back. Keep in mind, the $313 million slugger had 35 home runs and 109 RBIs in 163 games split between the Boston Red Sox and Giants just last season. The three-time All-Star has also hit at least 32 home runs four times in his career.
With the Phillies needing another star slugger, it could make sense for them to swing a deal for Devers as they look to climb the standings. If they did, he would give them another star power hitter to work with for the front half of their lineup.
Phillies Trading for Devers Would Be A Potential High-Risk, High-Reward Move
With Devers having a tough start to this season and being in just year four of his 10-year, $313.5 million contract, there is no question that trading for him would come with a lot of risk for the Phillies.
However, given Devers’ excellent resume, trading for him could also be a high-reward deal for the Phillies if he regains his elite form. It will be interesting to see if the Phillies end up making a push for him, but it would certainly be a bold move if they do.
Phillies Named Top Landing Spot for Giants $313M Star Slugger