The Philadelphia Phillies currently hold one of the best records in baseball while the Houston Astros are six games under .500. The two teams may not have an opportunity for a 2022 World Series rematch in the '24 Fall Classic unless Houston turns things around, but they could agree to a deal before the MLB trade deadline.
Houston may end up selling ahead of the trade deadline amid their underwhelming season. Stars such as Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman are expected to draw no shortage of interest if they are made available. However, it is a different Astros player who is currently being linked to the Phillies.
“I'm going to mention one name that I don't think has been talked about enough as a possible trade deadline candidate,” MLB insider Jon Morosi said on MLB Network. “Jake Meyers in centerfield. I mention Jake Meyers because he's actually playing exceptionally well. It's been in a lot of ways the best year that he's ever put together in the major leagues.
“For that reason, for a somewhat struggling up-and-down Astros team… You look at the ways the Phillies have struggled maybe to get that consistent production out of centerfield. I would say Jake Meyers is a natural trade fit to a team like the Phillies.”
Jake Meyers' 2024 season
Meyers, 27, is slashing .263/.328/.431/.759 across 58 games played in 2024. The Astros outfielder has also hit six home runs and stolen five bases.
He has played at the MLB level since 2021. Meyers' current numbers do not necessarily jump off the page, but he is having his best MLB season yet. The Astros have given him an opportunity and Meyers has displayed the ability to contribute at the MLB level.
He is a player who can move around the outfield if necessary. Meyers offers a respectable amount of power and can also steal bases. He will not make or break a team's season, but adding a player like Meyers will likely catch contenders' attention if the Astros do opt to trade him.
Phillies' outfield questions
Does trading for Jake Meyers or another outfielder make sense for the Phillies?
Nick Castellanos has struggled in 2024 but he has a proven track record. He's also strictly a corner outfielder.
Brandon Marsh is injured. Marsh can play centerfield when healthy, but has also spent time in left field. Whit Merrifield is a versatile player but he has yet to get things going offensively. Meanwhile, Johan Rojas is the Phillies centerfielder at the moment, but his offensive production has been less than ideal.
Adding Meyers would provide the Phillies with an upgrade over Rojas and Merrifield. At the very least, Meyers could serve as a depth option. He could be an everyday player as well, though.
Phillies fans would probably prefer to trade for a star like Kyle Tucker. Every team that makes a deep postseason run tends to feature overlooked players who make positive impacts, however. Jake Meyers could be one of those players for the Phillies as they prepare for another postseason run in 2024.
Follow Us
Subscribe