We all know that the Philadelphia Phillies need to address their outfield. Harrison Bader and Max Kepler are both free agents, and Nick Castellanos is basically radioactive.

The problem is that the free-agent outfield crop is rather thin, and the Phillies do not seem all that likely to splurge on Kyle Tucker, especially if they retain Kyle Schwarber.

Taking that into consideration, a trade may be the best option for Philadelphia, but one of its top potential outfield trade targets has already been moved: Taylor Ward.

The Los Angeles Angels traded Ward to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for pitcher Grayson Rodriguez on Tuesday in a rather rare player-for-player swap. The Phillies certainly could have had Ward if they wanted to, but they decided to pass.

And you know what? I understand it. Yes, Ward smashed 36 home runs to go along with 103 RBI in 2025, but he hit just .228 with a .317 OBP while playing less than stellar defense.

Ward also turns 32 years old next month and is slated to hit free agency after next season, so perhaps Philadelphia did not want to give up anything of value for a lifetime .766 OPS guy who can simply walk at the end of 2026.

Unfortunately, there really aren't a ton of other options available for the Phillies.

Philadelphia can try to acquire fellow Angels outfielder Jo Adell, but given that Adell is significantly younger and has two years of club control remaining, the price will likely be much higher.

The Phillies have been linked to former Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert in free agency, but Robert has posted an OPS of under .700 in each of the last two years.

It's getting tougher for Philadelphia, which may ultimately have to resort to re-signing Bader (depending on his market, of course) and rolling with 21-year-old Justin Crawford in its outfield.

Either that, or the Phillies may have to throw caution to the wind and pursue Tucker, who is expected to bag a contract worth in the neighborhood of $400 million.

Whatever the case may be, Philadelphia needs to do something. It has been bounced from the NLDS two years in a row, and the team isn't getting any younger.