Report: Phillies looking at outfield help during trade discussions

The Philadelphia Phillies became baseball's first team to 40 wins and have the best record in the Majors as the calendar flips to June.

However they can still look to improve the roster as the July 30 deadline looms and according to former MLB GM Jim Bowden, speaking on MLB Radio, the team is looking to add some outfield help.

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"I've had three GM's tell me this week that the Phillies' No. 1 priority is outfield," Bowden said. They've been out there looking at outfield help.  I don't think they are getting the outfield production they were hoping for in center field or overall."

The team could handle Johan Rojas struggling at the plate if they were getting better production from Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, Whit Merrifield, and Cristian Pache, but none of those four are having a good offensive season.

Of the group Marsh has been the best, hitting .264 with six home runs and 26 RBI.  However, he has struggled against left-handed pitching,, hitting just .139 with no home runs and two RBI in 43 plate appearances.

Castellanos has gotten off to a slow start this season, hitting just .211 with seven home runs and 25 RBI in 59 games.  He has shown some signs over the past few days of coming around.

Merrifield has been disappointing as well.  The team signed him to a one-year, $8 million contract with an $8 million club option for 2025, but he is hitting just .184 with two home runs and four RBI in 30 games.

Expect the team to be busy looking for an offensive-minded outfielder at the trade deadline.