Rays All-Star mentioned as likely Phillies acquisition; ‘the best they can do’

The Philadelphia Phillies need an outfield bat, but they may be unable to trade for their top options.

Philadelphia has been linked to Jazz Chisholm and Luis Robert Jr. in its designs to trade for an outfielder before July 30.

Chisholm and Robert Jr. will assuredly have multiple suitors, however. The Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox, respectively, may choose more preferable trade returns than what the Phillies can offer for Chisholm and Robert Jr.

Philadelphia should be prepared with backup options, and The Athletic's Jim Bowden suggested on Wednesday that an outfielder from the Tampa Bay Rays could be the best among those options.

Bowden acknowledged former American League Rookie of the Year Randy Arozarena as a possible acquisition for the Phillies.

"I would like to see the Phillies land Robert or Chisholm," Bowden said. "However, if the Phillies can’t get Robert or Chisholm and Arozarena is the best they can do, I guess I would have interest, but that would mean moving Brandon Marsh from left to center field, which is not ideal."

Arozarena, 29, was an All-Star last season for Tampa Bay and won the ALCS MVP in 2020 for the club.

He's underperforming at the plate this season with .196/ .305/ .353 splits, but a return to the mean is likely on the horizon. Arozarena is a career .255/ .344/ .437 hitter.

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