How will the Philadelphia Phillies fix their outfield in 2025?

Despite all the other strong positions on this year’s Phillies team, the outfield stood out as a weakness. Nick Castellanos was a good hitter in right field, but center and left fields were below average offensively, as Johan Rojas, Brandon Marsh and Austin Hays all struggled at the plate.

The Phillies know they have a limited championship window with superstars like Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler and Trea Turner already in their 30s. To extend that window, they need an extra big bat who can hold down a spot in the outfield.

Enter Brent Rooker of the ill-fated Athletics, who had a monster season in the team’s final year in Oakland. Recently, Matt Snyder of CBS Sports urged the Phillies to acquire Rooker in a blockbuster trade for the big right-handed slugger.

“The A’s have said they don’t want to trade Rooker, but what sense does it make to keep him?” »Snyder said. “He’s 30 years old and coming off a career year and they don’t plan on contending until they’re settled in Las Vegas in several years. His 39 homers and 112 RBIs would fit in very well with the Phillies as a left fielder.”

Acquiring Rooker would certainly address the lack of power in the Phillies outfield. Unfortunately, this also creates another problem because Rooker played virtually no defense in 2024. He played 58 games in the outfield in 2023 and only 14 last season.

Rooker may be more comfortable at this point as a DH only, but the Phillies already have one in Kyle Schwarber. They also expressed a desire to keep Harper at first base, even though he would likely be a better defensive outfielder than Schwarber and Rooker.

But at the end of the day, it takes good hitters to win championships. The Hays-Marsh left field just hasn’t been successful, and Philadelphia needs to do something decisive to get back into championship contention. Trading for Rooker certainly qualifies.

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