The Philadelphia Phillies could hook up on a significant trade with the Los Angeles Angels.
The Philadelphia Phillies will probably have to make some major changes in their outfield this offseason. Harrison Bader and Max Kepler are both free agents, and Nick Castellanos seems like a sure-fire goner.
But will the Phillies do? Will they go for broke and pursue Kyle Tucker? Maybe go after a cheaper option in Cody Bellinger? Or could they turn to a trade?
The latter seems to be a distinct possibility for Philadelphia, and Jon Morosi of MLB Network has already identified a couple of potential candidates for the Phillies: Los Angeles Angels outfielders Jo Adell and Taylor Ward.
"I'll mention one team in particular: the Philadelphia Phillies," Morosi said. "... A lot of moving parts there with the Phillies. ... The outfield there with Philly, very much a work in progress. I could easily see an Angels-Phillies move involving one of those outfielders."
Adell and Ward were two of the most prolific power hitters in the American League this past season, smashing 37 and 36 home runs, respectively.
However, both players come with caveats.
Adell is a terrible defensive outfielder who owns a lifetime .694 OPS since breaking into the big leagues as a former top prospect in 2020.
Yes, the 26-year-old clearly has impressive power, but he hit just .236 with a .293 OBP in 2025. His power should play well at Citizens Bank Park, but he is a liability with his glove and has walked only 98 times over 1,643 career plate appearances.
Meanwhile, Ward has been a much more reliable hitter throughout his major-league tenure, owning a respectable .247/.327/.475 slash line. But while he isn't quite as bad defensively as Adell, he isn't a very good outfielder, either.
Plus, Ward turns 32 next month and is preparing to enter the final year of his deal, so the Phillies may not be all that willing to part with legitimate prospects in exchange for him.
While both players are intriguing, neither should cause the Phillies — or any team — to fall over themselves attempting to trade for them.
Philadelphia would actually probably be better off spending $400 million on Tucker than aggressively pursuing a trade for either Adell or Ward.