The MLB trade deadline is Monday at 6 p.m. EST, and the Philadelphia Phillies have already struck big.
The Phillies acquired Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for right-handed pitchers Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair. The Phillies gave up their No. 4 prospect in Marquez, but Arraez has a chance to make a huge impact for the Phillies as they chase a World Series title.
The Phillies went into the deadline with a clear need for an offensive upgrade in the outfield, preferably by way of a right-handed bat. Arraez is neither a righty nor an outfielder, but he still gets the job done.
According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Bryce Harper will move back to right field for the first time since 2022, opening up first base. Arraez is capable of playing first base, but he has been so good defensively at second base this season that the Phillies are keeping him there.
Zolecki reported that Alec Bohm will move across the diamond, from third base to first base, and Bryson Stott, the Phillies’ regular second baseman, will now man the hot corner.
Harper, who started playing first base after undergoing Tommy John surgery, will be someone to keep an eye on. He has been willing to move back to the outfield, but the concern for his arm is valid. Stott has just 15 innings at third base in his big league career.
The moves to accommodate Arraez are risky, but should be worth it.
The Phillies’ batting average against southpaws this season sits at .233, ranking 25th in all of baseball. Being abysmal against left-handed pitching when the path to the World Series could mean facing Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Kyle Harrison and Chris Sale is not ideal.
Arraez may be a lefty, but he does not care what hand the pitcher is throwing with. He has a National League-best .324 batting average this season and is looking to win his fourth career batting title.
Specifically against left-handed pitching, he has a .315/.341/.441 slash line.
Another area of concern for the Phillies’ offense is strikeouts. Arraez ranks in the 100th percentile for strikeout rate and will be a huge addition to the lineup in that regard. He will slot in perfectly in front of Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who can drive him in with real power.
Defensively, Arraez had a minus-37 outs above average at second base coming into the season. This year, he is in the 98th percentile with a plus-11.
Stott was also playing elite defense at second base, but Arraez has been better in that spot. The Phillies are hoping Stott’s glove can translate to the hot corner and their defense improves overall with the addition of Arraez.
Photo: Luis Arraez, right, celebrates after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Friday, May 15, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
