Mar 29, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (16) at bat during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images Reggie Hildred
Every week, On Pattison's Tim Kelly and Anthony SanFilippo will answer your Phillies questions from social media. Let's get to it.
@Mrstanleycup on X: Who on the current roster could be trade bait at the deadline?
Tim Kelly: I will preface this by saying anything written in either of our answers should be taken as educated speculation, not a concrete report or rumor.
The name that comes to mind for me, especially if he recovers from a slow start, is Brandon Marsh. If the Phillies trade for a center fielder — which shouldn't be taken for granted given how few difference makers there are at the position — what role would Marsh have? Nick Castellanos is entrenched in right. Marsh can't really be a platoon partner for Max Kepler since they are both left-handed hitters that the Phillies tend to protect against opposing lefties.
Marsh is a great teammate, and is a player who has had value for the Phillies since they acquired him in August of 2022. But he strikes out a ton for someone that isn't a power hitter, and is going to get more expensive over his final two years of arbitration eligibility. If he can help you to get a relief pitcher this summer, moving Marsh might be something that makes sense in the event you can backfill center field.
Anthony SanFilippo: Marsh is the right answer, but I can't just mail it in and say, "Tim's right." So I need to get creative.
What if I say it's Jordan Romano?
Hear me out.
Let's say Romano starts to look better. Let's say he starts to improve enough where he's at least a middle relief option out of the 'pen and not one where you close your eyes and cross your fingers.
Does another bullpen-starved team take a chance on him in a higher leverage spot?
Before you say no, remember, Baltimore took swings on both Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto last summer when they were scuffling for the Phillies.
Maybe someone takes a smaller swing (Romano is a free agent after the season) as the Phillies try to reshape their bullpen at the deadline just as they did a season ago.
@CGable96 on X: Otto Kemp coming up soon? He is tearing up Triple-A!
Tim Kelly: Last weekend, I wrote a feature on Kemp's hot start, which included quotes from Rob Thomson and Preston Mattingly, both of whom seem to be legitimately impressed by him.
"It's on-base, it's slug, the defense has been solid. He's had a great start to the year."
Otto Kemp has been tremendous at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and the Phillies are taking notice.
[image or embed]— Tim Kelly (@timkellysports.bsky.social) May 5, 2025 at 10:32 AM
The problem is, there's not necessarily a spot for him right now. Mattingly said his best position is probably third base, and Alec Bohm appears to be turning the corner after a slow start. Even if you view him as a utility infielder, the Phillies already have an excellent utility infielder in Edmundo Sosa. And just to cover all bases, Weston Wilson homered Sunday, so he deserves a chance as the right-handed hitting outfielder off the bench.
I'm not saying Kemp won't eventually come up this year, but I do wonder if he could be part of a trade. He's not considered a top-tier prospect, so he wouldn't headline a deal. But if you're a team like the Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies or Los Angeles Angels, he would be an intriguing second or third player in a deal if you do business with the Phillies this summer.
Anthony SanFilippo: Kemp is the next guy they call up if there is an injury — or if Weston Wilson isn't productive.
So is there a good chance you see him in a Phillies uniform at some point? Yes.
But tearing it up at Triple-A and doing so in the Big Leagues are two completely different things.
Might he be an intriguing bench option at some point, somewhere? Yes. But he's not an every day major leaguer — otherwise he'd be in the majors right now.
What I'm saying is, don't fall in love with Triple-A numbers. If they really translated, Darin Ruf, Darick Hall and Scott Kingery would have been All-Stars.
News flash: they weren't.
@EmmCoooper42 on X: Serious: What happens when José Ruiz is off the IL? Do we trade? Does someone move between starting rotation and bullpen? (Bear with me, still learning)
Tim Kelly: All good! Baseball transaction minutiae is like a 400-level college class.
When Ruiz comes off the injured list, he'll be activated and the Phillies will have to decide who is the odd-man-out in their bullpen. As of right now, I'd guess that will be Carlos Hernández, who will have to be designated for assignment because he's out of minor-league options. But Rob Thomson spoke highly of his "aptitude" earlier this month, and you can't teach 97 mph. So if Hernández strings together some really good outings over the next 10 or so days, the Phillies may find a way to keep him.
Tanner Banks and Orion Kerkering both have remaining minor-league options. Right now, the latter seems more like someone who could benefit from a reset at Triple-A.
Anthony SanFilippo: Look at Tim, stealing my storyline! I've been saying for a couple of weeks that Kerkering doesn't look like himself and maybe could use that refresh that José Alvarado got in 2022. Just a few weeks back down in the minors to fix himself, and then come back with a vengeance.
The reality, though, is the Phillies won't make a decision until they are forced to do so. Ruiz doesn't have to come back from the IL as soon as the 15 days are up. He can still be "rehabbing." Additionally, if they wanted to send him on a rehab assignment, they can chew up another 30 days.
My honest opinion is he's healthy as soon as another pitcher isn't.
Nate Michael on Facebook: Could we see a Justin Crawford/Johan Rojas platoon?
Tim Kelly: In 2026, there's a very real shot that's the case.
In 2025, that would require that A) Marsh is traded and B) another short-term center fielder isn't acquired.
Crawford is a divisive prospect. Some people love him and see a contact hitter that is going to play great defense and steal bases. But while he's currently hitting .325 at Triple-A, he hasn't homered yet this season. He also has a 58.3% ground ball percentage, and some of those balls that turn into hits in the minors won't be at the majors. For reference, Bryson Stott is having success as a contact hitter at the majors, but his ground ball percentage is 41.5%.
Given that he's only 21 years old, there's nothing wrong with making Crawford kick the door in. And if he's not the best person to help you win a title in 2025, then spending the entire season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley — or not coming up until September — wouldn't be the worst thing.
Anthony SanFilippo: Unless he starts adding more completeness to his offense, I don't see him being a major contributor in 2025.
If the Phillies have to rely on Crawford/Rojas as their center field platoon in October, then they aren't going to win a World Series this season.
I would bet that center field is an area of focus for them in July at the deadline, and Crawford could well be a part of a package that upgrades that position.
Of the Phillies top three prospects, he's the least untouchable. And if the Phillies are going to take a big swing at the deadline, it's going to need to be with one of them likely going out, and Crawford might have to be that guy.
