The Philadelphia Phillies must trade for another right-handed bat, and Lane Thomas could be a perfect option.
It's no secret what the Philadelphia Phillies should be looking for ahead of the trade deadline on August 3: the team needs more balance in their lineup by adding a right-handed hitter, preferably in the outfield.
When thinking of the Phillies' needs and which players could be moved in the next couple of weeks, there's one player that comes to mind that would be a great fit in Philadelphia and would likely be a low-cost option, too: Lane Thomas.
Thomas signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals after an injury-filled season with the Cleveland Guardians in 2025.
At his best with the Guardians and, before them, the Philadelphia's division rival, the Washington Nationals, Thomas has been an above-average hitter in the middle of a lineup, has been a home run threat, and has feasted on left-handed pitching.
Not to mention, his speed makes him a base-stealing threat and could be an upside on defense, too.
While it's been a little while since Thomas has been that player due to injuries, the 30-year-old is showing he's more than capable of being an impact bat in a playoff-caliber lineup.
The first important number to look at is the number of games played. Thomas has appeared in 85 games for the Royals in 2026, already a far cry from his 39 games in 2025.
By all indications, he truly does look healthy and isn't experiencing any lingering effects from the plantar fasciitis.
Jun 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Lane Thomas (15) hits a single against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn ImagesNext comes the hitting stats, which are encouraging , too.
Thomas has a .240/.340/.417 slash line, nine home runs, and 16 doubles in 282 at-bats this season.
There's a lot to like with some of the underlying numbers as well. Thomas' 89.6 mph average exit velocity and bat speed are actually up from his last full season in 2024, and he's improved some of his strikeout numbers, too.
As the Phillies have a .228/.318/.365 against left-handers as a team, Thomas has a career .848 OPS off southpaws.
Having Thomas as an option to play any three outfield positions alongside hitting just about anywhere in the lineup, depending on the starter, would provide great depth for the Phillies.
Another bonus in a potential Thomas deal is that he has playoff experience; he knows how the game changes, speeds up, and slows down, and what it's like being at the plate when the stakes are high in October.
In 2024, he hit a go-ahead grand slam off Tarik Skubal in Game 5 of the ALDS and another three-run homer earlier in the series.
Given that the Royals are well out of a playoff spot in the wide-open American League and Thomas is on an expiring deal, Kansas City's front office could be motivated to move him to recoup some value from its free agent signing a year ago.
If the Royals do make Thomas available, the Phillies should be among the teams to express interest in the outfielder.
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