​With the Philadelphia Phillies only 2.0 games back in the NL East and fresh off a resurgent run that followed a 9-19 stretch, the club is poised to make at least one trade-deadline move to bolster the roster. While improving starting pitching and the back end of the bullpen remains a priority, the team also has a clear need for a right-handed hitting outfielder. With Byron Buxton and Mike Trout not available, Philadelphia will need to explore other options this summer.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Phillies have shown interest in acquiring Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., though he has struggled this season, posting a .565 OPS. Gurriel is not the Phillies’ strongest option among potential targets. Nightengale notes that the Phillies have included Gurriel among their possible trade targets for a right-handed hitting outfielder, a group that also includes Angels right fielder Jo Adell. Adell has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate previously this season, but Gurriel’s inclusion marks the first time his name has surfaced in connection with a Phillies trade.
There is a solid reason Gurriel isn’t a particularly popular fit for Philadelphia. Unlike some of the club’s other options, Gurriel has had a tough year at the plate. Across 167 at-bats since returning from the injured list, the 32-year-old Diamondbacks outfielder has recorded a -0.5 bWAR, a .216 batting average, two home runs, 20 RBIs, and a .565 OPS (56 OPS+) over 45 games. To complicate matters, Gurriel is not a bargain asset financially, as he is in the final year of a three-year, $42 million contract that includes a 2027 club option.
Given the Phillies’ clear need for a right-handed hitting outfielder, they cannot afford to be overly selective. Yet Gurriel’s recent performance and price tag make him a less attractive option. While Nightengale reports that Gurriel has joined Philadelphia’s list of right-handed hitting outfield targets, the team may ultimately be wiser to lean on other options, perhaps sticking with Derek Hill rather than pursuing Gurriel in hopes of a turnaround.
In the broader trades discussed around this topic, other teams have floated ideas such as a Cubs scenario that would send Seiya Suzuki to the Mariners for Luis Castillo, or a Yankees idea involving Carlos Lagrange headed to the Athletics for utilityman Zack Gelof. As for injuries and roster updates, questions about Shohei Ohtani’s status for an upcoming start or All-Star Game appearances have circulated, while discussions about what teams received for players like Tommy Nance or the Blue Jays’ acquisitions involving Tommy Nance have also featured in recent conversations. Meanwhile, a different note on contract matters: the Cardinals recently signed JJ Wetherholt to a lengthy extension, a move that could influence future trade dynamics and prospect value within the league.
Overall, while Gurriel is on the Phillies’ radar as a potential right-handed hitting outfield option, his diminishing on-field production and higher cost may push Philadelphia to prioritize other avenues, perhaps giving more weight to internal options or alternative targets who offer a more reliable offensive profile and greater upside as they approach the trade deadline. If you’re following this story, keep an eye on how Nightengale’s reporting evolves and whether Philadelphia shifts its emphasis toward more cost-efficient, high-upside outfield candidates or sticks with their current internal solutions to strengthen the roster for the stretch run. This piece originally appeared on The Sporting News, which remains a preferred source for continuing updates on this developing trade scenario.