Brandon Marsh

ATLANTA – The Phillies have been trying to find a starting pitcher before Tuesday's 6 p.m. Trade Deadline. But after falling short to this point, ...

The Phillies had been looking for starting pitching because Zach Eflin is on the 60-day injured list with a right knee injury. But the price for starting pitching has been high, so it appears the Phillies shifted their priorities. O’Hoppe is the Phillies’ No. 3 prospect, and the No. 86 prospect in baseball.

The Phillies acquired closer David Robertson and outfielder Brandon Marsh in separate trades with the Cubs and Angels, respectively.

Herrera, meanwhile, is hitting .238 with five home runs and 21 RBIs this season. Robertson, 37, is in the midst of a resurgent year. Marsh, 24, is hitting .226 with eight home runs and 37 RBIs this season.

There was even a rumor that catching prospect Logan O'Hoppe would be a part of the return. But from the sounds of it, they went in a different, more glove- ...

At the same time, the Phillies do have plenty of pop in their lineup already, so maybe this really was all about adding defense. Late last week, the Phillies were rumored to be one of the teams potentially pursuing outfielder Ian Happ, with the goal of adding to center field, in particular. This is a little surprising, given the substantial return.

The 24-year-old was a high-profile prospect in recent years, having been selected in the second round of the 2016 draft. He then hit his way up the minor ...

He’s spent the entirety of this season in Double-A, hitting .269/.385/.492 for a 139 wRC+. He has the reputation of a strong defensive catcher but has also been hitting well in the minors. As for the Angels, their 43-59 record has them well out of contention and clear sellers. Marsh may not provide an immediate upgrade with the bat but should at least have a floor of improved defense. Since reaching the majors last year, his output has been a bit of a mixed bag. However, he’s still been worth 1.8 wins above replacement, in the estimation of FanGraphs.

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired outfielder Brandon Marsh from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for catching prospectLogan O'Hoppe.

Brandon Marsh barrels the ball and plays a good center field, a combination of which the Phillies don't have right now. He has 15 homers.

The Angels have a huge need for capable offensive catchers in their system. wait Logan O'Hoppe is in the deal? He'll serve as a utility infielder for the Phillies, with Jean Segura returning from a broken right index finger this week. He's shown more pop this season, with eight homers, though his calling card has been on defense. That will leave him as the team's designated hitter upon his return.

The Philadelphia Phillies just got a centerfielder as they acquired CF Brandon Marsh from the Los Angeles in order to push for the playoffs.

This is a massive return as he’s the Phillies’ No. 3 prospect and has All-Star catcher potential. The Phillies badly needed a reliable defender in the outfielder. The biggest selling point for the Phillies is that he is a legitimate centerfielder. The Angels are starting a mini-rebuild. Over his 163 games at the MLB level, he has hit .239/.299/.354 with an 82 OPS+. He has 10 home runs and 56 RBI with 14 stolen bases. The Phillies did well to get a young centerfielder who isn’t a free agent until 2028.

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired their centerfielder of the future in Brandon Marsh, but questions can fairly be asked about the price they paid.

Clearly, that was not the truth; however, there remains the possibility that the rumor was leaked to increase the trade value of one or more players listed. This move has also led to the designation of Odubel Herrera, which fans have clamored for, for some time now. For now, Marsh should be given the benefit of the doubt. Granted, Marsh was the Angels’ top in 2020 and heading into the 2021 season, but he has disappointed in his first two seasons. Just as the trade deadline looked like a snooze fest for fans in Philadelphia, the trade news began to pour through. The Phillies now have their starting centerfielder for the foreseeable future, which was a major question mark.

ATLANTA – The Phillies have been trying to find a starting pitcher before Tuesday's 6 p.m. Trade Deadline. But after falling short to this point, ...

The Phillies had been looking for starting pitching because Zach Eflin is on the 60-day injured list with a right knee injury. But the price for starting pitching has been high, so it appears the Phillies shifted their priorities. O’Hoppe is the Phillies’ No. 3 prospect, and the No. 86 prospect in baseball.