theathleticuk
As autumn settles in, the Philadelphia Phillies once again confront a familiar offseason question: who will patrol the outfield? This year, the situation appears even more fluid than it was a year ago. During the general managers meetings at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, team officials informed rival clubs and agents that they are not committed to any particular configuration.
That openness extends to Brandon Marsh, who is reportedly available in trade discussions, according to league sources who requested anonymity. Meanwhile, the Phillies remain high on Justin Crawford but may not view him as their center fielder. The club has also inquired about numerous free-agent outfielders, including the top names on the market.
No one, including the Phillies themselves, knows how the outfield will take shape. "We have to have an outfielder, right?" said president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. "Right now, we don't have an outfield. But is that more important than some other things? I guess it depends upon who the outfielder is."
The Phillies' outfield has been a weak spot, ranking 23rd in WAR since 2023 and 28th in 2026, per FanGraphs. Dombrowski has acknowledged that the farm system lacks a player ready to assume a regular outfield role in 2027. While the Phillies have shown interest in Teruaki Sato, Seiya Suzuki, and Randy Arozarena, fitting another large contract onto the roster without sacrificing other needs remains a challenge.
With an unofficial 2026 payroll of about $322 million for luxury-tax purposes, the Phillies are currently projected at around $291 million for 2027, including arbitration estimates. If they match last season's payroll, they would have roughly $30 million to spend. That financial picture makes Marsh, who is projected to earn about $8 million in arbitration, a compelling figure.
Marsh was an All-Star starter and appeared to be enjoying a breakout season before a dramatic second-half collapse made him one of baseball's worst hitters over the final three months. "I still think he's a solid big-league player," Dombrowski said. "He's a good defensive outfielder in left and right. We have to straighten out the second half. There's really no rhyme or reason that he should play like that. He's just too good a player to do it. Sometimes guys get in a funk, and they just can't get out of it. We still look at him as a nice, solid [player]."
Dombrowski added a caveat: "Who knows? Maybe he surprises me. But I don't think you can go into the season and say he's going to play 162 games. Because I think versus lefties, it's hard to count on him being an offensive producer at this time."
There may be another explanation for Marsh's uneven performance. After the season, he underwent surgery on his left hand, just above the wrist, according to a league source. Marsh played through the ailment for several months, and it is unclear whether the team's medical staff was aware. The Phillies have not commented on the procedure, and Dombrowski said, "Not to my knowledge. None of our big guys have had anything, to my knowledge."
Marsh maintained his bat speed throughout the season, per Statcast, but did not drive the ball as he did in the first three months. Hitters often say wrist or hand pain affects power most. Even if that explains the offensive woes, the Phillies might still see this as a time to move on from Marsh, a platoon player with a rising salary who turns 29 next month.
The Phillies must also decide on Derek Hill and Bryan De La Cruz, both arbitration-eligible. Hill is expected to be retained, with a projected $1.5 million salary, while De La Cruz's status is less certain, though he has a minor-league option remaining. The team could pursue a split contract with De La Cruz. "Those are still things we have to talk about," Dombrowski said.
Hill would likely form a platoon with either Crawford or Marsh. "We could, depending on who they are," Dombrowski said of running two outfield platoons. "Yeah, we could. Other clubs do it too."
Could the Phillies do better than allocating about $10 million to a Marsh-De La Cruz tandem in left? Trading Marsh now would mean selling low, and with the labor situation, moving a player with one year of control is tougher. The Phillies might seek a similar return—another team's player set to be a free agent after 2027 but a better roster fit.
Crawford's role is safer but not guaranteed. The Phillies plan to keep him in the outfield mix but could shift him to left if they acquire a better defensive center fielder. They could platoon him again or give him a longer runway to develop. Last season, Crawford started 123 games in center, the most by a Phillies player since Odubel Herrera in 2018. The team shielded the 22-year-old against left-handed starters in the final months.
Johan Rojas remains in the organization after serving a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs and undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery. He will play winter ball in the Dominican Republic, Dombrowski said, and can be sent to the minors in 2027. "We still like a lot of things about him," Dombrowski said, "but he still needs to establish himself as a big-league player, especially from the offensive side."
None of this is particularly inspiring in mid-November, when fans crave transactions. Changes are coming; the only question is how drastic the overhaul will be. But the current outfield situation is clearly begging for a shift.
Key Analysis
The Phillies' outfield uncertainty stems from a combination of underperformance, financial constraints, and limited internal options. With Marsh's trade availability and Crawford's undefined role, the club faces a pivotal offseason. The potential return for Marsh may be limited given his second-half struggles and the looming labor uncertainty, which complicates trades involving players with one year of control. The Phillies must balance immediate needs with long-term flexibility, making this offseason one of careful navigation.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.