Report: Brandon Marsh is ‘less inclined’ to be included in Phillies trade talks this winter

It appears that Brandon Marsh might avoid the hot stove this winter. The Phillies’ offseason trade chatter has been all over the map—names like Alec Bohm, Ranger Suárez, and Nick Castellanos are flying around as potential trade pieces but Marsh could be here to stay.

Matt Gelb of The Athletic dropped this nugget on the latest Phillies Therapy podcast with Paul Boye, hinting that the Phillies are “less inclined” to move Marsh. Here’s what Gelb had to say on the latest episode of Phillies Therapy.

Matt Gelb on Brandon Marsh:

“The one thing I did hear recently — and I think this is pretty good information — is that they are less inclined to move Marsh. Brandon Marsh is a guy that’s not as available, I guess I would say, as some of the other guys. Not that they wouldn’t trade him if the right offer came around. That stands for everybody. I think he’s less among that group of guys that they are more active in trying to sell. … I think it’s more about the center field situation than anything. Obviously, there are no free agent center fielders, and trading for a center fielder is probably, I don’t want to say impossible, but unwise given the value or the price that may be put on other center fielders. Their inclination to keep Marsh is more about the other center field options than anything. More than likely, barring a massive surprise, you’re probably looking at a Marsh/Rojas combo in center field with an upgrade in left, hypothetically.”

Free Agent Centerfielders:

• Harrison Bader (31, 2.4)
• Michael A. Taylor (34, 2.4)
• Garrett Hampson (30, 1.1)
• Kevin Pillar (36, 0.8)
• Aaron Hicks (35, 0.4)
• Manuel Margot (30, 0.3)
• Kiké Hernández (33, -0.4)
• Bryce Teodosio (26, -0.3)

Oof. Take a look at that list. Obviously, the logic here is solid. The free agent market for an everyday centerfielder is pretty grim. Unless the Phillies are going to trade for one then I could easily see Brandon Marsh being in South Philly next season.

Do I like it? Not really. Would I rather have Luis Robert Jr join the Phillies as a part of a trade that also lands Garrett Crochet in red pinstripes? Absolutely.

Luis Robert Jr. sent that one out in a hurry! ☄️

(via @NBCSWhiteSox)pic.twitter.com/6mjZrSdszY

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 25, 2024

Yes there are injury concerns but I’m willing to look past them because Luis Robert Jr. is an absolute STUD and I have full faith he can get back to 2023 form, when he was a Gold Glove outfielder along with a Silver Slugger in a stacked Phillies lineup where he’s protected.

At least then, you can shake up this lineup and get some fresh blood in the outfield. The Phillies were a disaster out there last season and I don’t want to hear anything about Brandon Marsh not being given every opportunity to take a starting job for years to come. The fact is that Marsh isn’t an everyday player because he can’t hit the baseball.

Sure, Brandon Marsh a solid glove and on a team-friendly deal but I still can’t get over his splits. Everyone wake up please. Brandon Marsh hit .192 with a .552 OPS against left-handed pitching last season while striking out 154 times in 476 plate appearances (a 32.4% K rate, bottom 3% of MLB). That is horrible and not an everyday player in Major League Baseball.

How about the Phillies say screw it and just trade for Mike Trout?

Right when the offseason kicked off, the Phillies were yet again linked to Mike Trout.

The thought here is that the Los Angeles Angels might finally be done trying to build around Mike Trout and will now be willing to eat a massive chunk of his remaining contract.

Trout signed a 12-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Angels worth $426.5 million in March 2019. The Phillies already have a projected $275 million payroll in 2025, so getting Trout’s salary off the books in the first year would be crucial.

The idea would be to start picking up his tab in 2026, once JT Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber’s deals are done. Think of it like the Los Angeles Deferred Dodgers.

If the Angels are willing to do that, Trout could be a legitimate target—especially considering the Phillies had to pinch-hit for their outfielders six times in a four-game postseason meltdown.

Phillies fans never seem to be open to the idea that Trout, a hometown hero and 11-time All-Star, would return to the team he grew up loving.

Why? I have no idea. Injuries aside, Mike Trout was well on his way to being the greatest baseball player on planet earth until Shohei Ohtani showed up and when healthy, can still be an impact player.

Obviously, the main concern comes with the baggage Trout brings in terms of financial risk and injury history. That’s a reasonable argument since he has been sidelined for large chunks of the regular season over the past few years but even still, his numbers are hard to ignore.

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