Philadelphia Phillies Seen as Trade Partner For Cubs Slugger

The Philadelphia Phillies can now work as buyers at the trade deadline, but would Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger be a good fit?

Would the Philadelphia Phillies be a potential destination in the Cody Bellinger sweepstakes, assuming there is one?

The Chicago Cubs are in the process of determining if they’re going to buy or sell at the trade deadline, and their president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, recently said they may wait until the final days before the Aug. 1 deadline.

If the Cubs choose to deal the resurgent slugger, the Phillies could be an option, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

The site put together a list of 12 potential suitors, though the Phillies were not among the top teams (the Houston Astros, the San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees made that list). But the Phillies could be seen as a secondary destination:

Any interest on Philadelphia’s part would probably be contingent on Bryce Harper holding up at first base. If the Phils are convinced he’s an everyday option there, they could kick Kyle Schwarber to designated hitter and leave open a corner outfield spot for Bellinger. (The Phils could also pursue Bellinger as a first base option if Harper can’t play the field, though that’d leave Schwarber in a corner outfield spot.) It might not be the top priority — rotation depth and perhaps third base are bigger concerns — but it’d be viable if Harper can defend. Phils’ president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has never been afraid to push in for big names.

Bellinger is having a bounce-back season after two atrocious years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has a 2024 mutual option on his contract.

He missed a month due to injury but in 63 games he’s slashed .308/.365/.523/.888 with 12 home runs and 35 RBI.

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