The Philadelphia Phillies are poised to be active buyers leading up to the July 30 trade deadline, a stance they’ve maintained since emerging as one of the top teams in the league early in the season.
Initially, it wasn’t clear what additions Dave Dombrowski would target for their already strong roster beyond the usual bullpen reinforcements. However, as the season progressed, it became evident that their outfield was underperforming. Nick Castellanos struggled through a slump, Johan Rojas didn’t progress offensively as expected, Cristian Pache was limited to a platoon role, and versatile player Whit Merrifield had his worst season to date.
Consequently, outfield improvement became a primary focus for the Phillies. The question then turned to which players they might pursue. Given the tight Wild Card races across both the National and American Leagues, identifying sellers has been challenging, but teams like the Oakland Athletics, who are out of contention, are expected to make moves.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY, the Phillies are eyeing Oakland A’s left fielder Brent Rooker. Nightengale notes, “The Philadelphia Phillies are keeping a close eye on Oakland A’s left fielder Brent Rooker. The Phillies rank 26th in OPS among left fielders this season.”
While Brandon Marsh’s recent performance has slightly improved their outfield statistics, the Phillies still seek offensive reinforcement in that area.
Rooker, 29 years old, has enjoyed a standout season with a slash line of .282/.360/.542, along with 18 home runs, 55 RBI, an OPS+ of 155, and a wRC+ of 153 through 78 games—his best career numbers. His potential addition could significantly bolster Philadelphia’s lineup.
The specifics of what it would take to acquire Rooker are unclear, given his three remaining years of club control. The Athletics are likely interested in talented prospects and possibly players like Cristian Pache in return.
With a clear target identified by Nightengale’s report, the Phillies’ pursuit of Rooker presents a storyline to monitor closely as the trade deadline approaches.
