After a strong start to the Major League Baseball season, the Philadelphia Phillies are now struggling.
Since the All-Star break, the Phillies have gone 7-16 and have lost seven of their last eight series. The once-dominant offense, which boasted three All-Star selections, has faltered, while the pitching staff, which led the league for most of the season, has faced injury problems.
Tuesday night might have marked a new low for the Phillies, as they fell 5-0 to the Miami Marlins and rookie pitcher Valente Bellozo in the series opener. The offense is underperforming, and a lineup shake-up might be necessary.
Outfielder Brandon Marsh, currently enduring a severe slump, could see reduced playing time. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, manager Rob Thomson might consider benching Marsh to address the issues.
Thomson agreed, stating, “He needs to make more contact.”
Marsh, 26, has been a fan favorite in Philadelphia since his 2022 trade to the team, thanks to his distinctive look, engaging personality, and ability to hit right-handed pitchers.
Gelb noted that any changes would likely be temporary, but Marsh needs to start performing at his expected level soon.
As the Phillies’ chances of winning the World Series diminish, speculation about their offseason moves is increasing. If the team falls short in the playoffs, it’s plausible that GM Dave Dombrowski could make a significant push to acquire New York Yankees superstar Juan Soto.
Signing Soto would likely trigger a major bidding war between the Yankees and the New York Mets, potentially making Soto the highest-paid player in baseball. The Phillies could make a competitive offer that Soto can’t refuse.
Although acquiring Soto would require trading away key players, Dombrowski’s track record suggests he might be willing to make such moves, especially if the team doesn’t secure a title this year. Soto’s potential move to the Phillies has already been mentioned by sources like Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
