The Philadelphia Phillies desperately need to address their outfield this offseason.
The Phillies boasted a 96-66 record this season, one of the best in the league, but that did little for the team as it fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. Philadelphia’s lack of production from its outfielders was clear this season. Former All-Star Nick Castellanos took a step back, and finished the season platooning in right field with Max Kepler.
The Phillies have actively tried to trade Castellanos the past couple of winters, but were unsuccessful. If they trade the 33-year-old this offseason, they will not be left with much in the outfield, especially after midseason acquisition Harrison Bader opted out of his contract.
If Philadelphia wants to revamp its offense to make a true World Series push next season, the team needs to address its issue in the outfield. MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki pitched that the Phillies make a trade with the Boston Red Sox for All-Star Jarren Duran.
“Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and Co. are in Las Vegas this week for the GM Meetings, where organizations lay the groundwork for the winter,” Zolecki wrote Tuesday. “If they want to revamp the offense, they can and should reshape the outfield. Ultimately, the Phillies will need to look outside for help.
“There are big free agents out there, like Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger, who seem unlikely unless Schwarber signs elsewhere. Then there are potential trades. The Red Sox have a surplus of outfielders, so Jarren Duran could be on the move. The Phillies expressed interest in Cleveland’s Steven Kwan in July, but the Guardians asked for too much.”
Duran recently just avoided arbitration with the Red Sox, signing a one-year, $7.7 million contract. After being named an All-Star in 2024, the 29-year-old put together a solid 2025 campaign, slashing .256/.332/.442 with 16 home runs and a career-high 84 RBIs. Duran is still under team control through the 2028 season, and could be a perfect trade target for the Phillies this offseason.
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