The Philadelphia Phillies are in dire need of help at three spots at the 2026 MLB trade deadline. A No. 4 or No. 5 starting pitcher, a left-handed reliever, and a right-handed hitting outfielder.
While finding a reliever and a starter might not be too difficult, when it comes to adding a right-handed hitting outfielder, it’s looking like it will be very difficult. For the Phillies, they might have to get a bit creative at the deadline.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan identified the outfielder who would be the “best match” for the Phillies this summer, and while it’s a good player, it’s an unexpected target in $113 million left-handed hitting Jung Hoo Lee of the San Francisco Giants.
Phillies ‘best match’ at trade deadline is Jung Hoo Lee
“Best match: Jung Hoo Lee, OF, San Francisco Giants,” Passan writes. “… With three more years and $63 million left on his deal, the 27-year-old Lee isn’t cheap. But with $35 million set to come off the Phillies’ books this winter, at the very least, it would address an area that doesn’t have a whole lot in the way of free agent solutions.”
Adding Lee would obviously help the Phillies this season, but as Passan notes, it could help resolve an outfield spot this upcoming offseason as well.
While Brandon Marsh will stick to his everyday role amid his breakout year, Lee could take over either in center field for Justin Crawford or right field for the Derek Hill/Gabriel Rincones Jr. platoon.
However, adding Lee would be a lot more of a bold move than some other potential trade targets this summer. Lee is a left-handed hitter, so he doesn’t exactly fill that right-handed hitting need for the Phillies.
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He’s also under club control through the 2029 season on his $113 million deal, with roughly $63 million left on his contract, as Passan notes.
But, strictly from a value perspective, he wouldn’t be a terrible pickup. While he has just 1.0 bWAR this season in 84 games, Lee is hitting .308 with a .777 OPS and 119 OPS+, which would be some of the best numbers on the Phillies roster this season.
He’s not a power hitter, as he has just five home runs this season. But, as a contact hitter who strikes out rarely, he’d be similar to if the Phillies added the outfield version of Luis Arraez.
It’s very interesting that Passan named Lee as the Phillies’ “best” trade match at this year’s deadline, as he doesn’t give the Phillies the right-handed hitting outfielder they’re looking for, and he’d not just cost a lot to have on the roster, but to acquire from the Giants, too.
