Phillies outfielder's roster spot in jeopardy as team looks to make blockbuster trade

Phillies outfielder's roster spot in jeopardy as team looks to make blockbuster trade

It's no secret that the Phillies are searching for help in their outfield.

As the Major League Baseball trade deadline creeps up in the rearview mirror, decision time is approaching fast.

If a trade does get made, someone on the roster gets left with the short end of the stick. The Phillies already sent Johan Rojas, presumed to be the starting center fielder at the beginning of the year, to Triple-A. And the team seems to have decided which of their outfielders is next on the chopping block.

According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the team is looking to fill Cristian Pache's roster spot between now and the July 31 deadline. Pache, 25, has played in 34 games this season, posting a .608 OPS with no home runs.

Because Marsh is a left-hander who struggles against left-handed pitching, Gelb believes the number one priority is finding a right-handed bat who can produce better than Pache has against tough lefties in October.

"Pache, remember, started three of the first four postseason games last year," Gelb said. "He did not appear again until he was used as a pinch hitter in Game 7 of the NLCS."

Many reports have connected the Phillies with Chicago White Sox star Luis Robert Jr., who would immediately take over everyday starting center field duties. But the Phillies could also pursue veterans like Tommy Pham and Mark Canha if they trust Brandon Marsh to stay in center field.

Pache, meanwhile, clearly has a lot to prove in the next five weeks. If he doesn't drastically improve his offensive output, he could be forced to try and find a fourth team to play for in his short MLB career.

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