Red-Hot Mets outfielder mentioned as option to Phillies roster hole

While the Philadelphia Phillies are considered one of the best teams in Major League Baseball, that doesn't mean they're perfect.

Many believe that the Phillies are going to move toward adding a center fielder before the trade deadline on July 30. Experts and analysts point to two excellent prospects for the Phillies: Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox and Jazz Chrisholm Jr. of the Miami Marlins.

However, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter suggested another option that is just as talented and much cheaper: the New York Mets' Harrison Bader.

"[Bader] is a former Gold Glove winner in center field, and he is also putting up strong offensive numbers, hitting .272/.319/.404 for a 110 OPS+ with 18 extra-base hits, 11 steals, and 1.5 WAR in 68 games," said Reuter. "He would not be as flashy of an addition as [Ronet Jr. and Chrisholm Jr.], but he likely won't cost more than a mid-level prospect or two and would still be a solid upgrade over the current in-house options."

Currently, Bader is signed to a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the Mets. If New York decides they want to sell come the trade deadline, Bader would make an obvious trade candidate if they want to start rebuilding for next season.

Would trading for Robert Jr. and Chrisholm Jr. be more exciting options for fans? Absolutely. But acquiring Bader at a cheaper cost would be the smart move for the Phillies in the long run.

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