Phillies Prospects Subject Of Trade Talks

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The Philadelphia Phillies appear done with big moves in free agency. That comes straight from the top and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

But, one can’t rule out a trade. The Phillies, like most teams, tend to be willing to take on players that can help them now and have some amount of team control remaining. The Phillies could use one more veteran outfielder and some more bullpen help.

If the Phillies are shopping, it’s clearer what the price might be.

Alex Coffey at the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Phillies have received exactly that sort of interest from at least three teams. Those teams appear to be dangling the help at positions the Phillies are interested in, but the price — at least for now — is not what the Phillies want to pay.

Those teams appear to want two Phillies prospects — shortstop Bryan Rincon and catcher Eduardo Tait.

Both are Top 30 Phillies prospects per MLB.com, but both are likely at least two years away from helping the Phillies at the MLB level.

Tait is the higher-rated prospect at No. 23 overall. He wrapped up 2023 in rookie ball and MLB.com projects he won’t be ready until 2028.

At some point the Phillies will need a replacement for J.T. Realmuto. That could be Caleb Ricketts, who is their No. 15 prospect, their highest-rated catcher and could be ready by 2025.

Tait nabbed $3 million in international bonus money last January and is highly thought of after he batted .333 in the Dominican Summer League.

Rincon is No. 28 and considered a 2026 call-up. He finished last season at High-A and with Trea Turner in the second-year of a 10-year contract, Rincon may not have a path to the Majors. He batted .234 last season and, for the moment, hasn’t shown much power.

The price doesn’t sound steep if the Phillies are looking for a reliever or a fifth outfielder. But, of course, it’s not clear what these teams are offering, which could be why the Phillies are, for now, hanging onto the pair.