The MLB Winter Meetings have come and gone, and the Philadelphia Phillies are still looking for that one decisive move to reignite their championship dreams. After a playoff run that ended in disappointment again and left the fans calling for a shake-up, the front office has hinted at a willingness to take bold steps to get better.
Baseball Operations President Dave Dombrowski is familiar with major roster changes, and the current market situation has opened a window to fetch a real superstar. The Arizona Diamondbacks, who are also dealing with payroll limitations and a roster transition, have a versatile hitter that perfectly matches the needs of Philadelphia.
The Missing Piece in the Phillies Lineup
Ketel Marte is exactly the kind of player the Phillies have been desperate to find and he is ready to be part of their regular lineup. As a switch-hitter with elite bat-to-ball skills and genuine power from both sides of the plate, Marte is the offensive flexibility that the Phillies lacked so often in the critical moments of the postseason.
If he was allowed to control the strike zone while hitting the ball for extra bases he would be the perfect complement for the likes of Bryce Harper and Trea Turner. Putting a hitter of his caliber in the second or third spot in the order would totally change the way opposing pitchers have to find their way through the Phillies' lineup.
It is reported that the Phillies are one of the few teams on the list for which Marte does not have a no-trade clause, thus, they are removing an important obstacle that often complicates such deals. This contract peculiarity gives Philly a clear edge over other bidders who have to convince the veteran infielder before sealing the deal.
Bringing in a player who will be under team control for the next five years fits perfectly with the organization's window to lift the World Series trophy while still being able to maintain stability. The money involved is quite a lot, but for a team that runs with a “championship or bust” mentality, the cost of doing nothing is much higher than the financial price.
The Cost of Doing Business
If the Phillies want to get their hands on a player who is a perennial All-Star and MVP favorite, they need to be ready to let go of a considerable amount of Major League talent as well as some high-potential youngsters. The secret is mostly out that the core of the package revolves around the fan farewell of a person who has been a constant figure in the infield, a move that will definitely cause the Philly crowd to grieve.
Yet, the trade market reality is such that you need to give great quality to receive the same, especially when the target is a top player at a top position. This agreement is a value consolidation deal that lets the team send three assets to Arizona and, in return, get a single game-changer who will have an immediate impact on the team's ceiling.
On the one hand, by trading away a current starter and two promising prospects, the Phillies will make room for Marte in the outfield while at the same time filling up the Diamondbacks' pool with almost-ready talents. It's a daring, well-calculated move that bets big on instant gratification at the expense of the future, a tactic that has been the hallmark of the Dombrowski era in Philly.
The “D-Backs” would be getting a deal that not only solves their need for a controllable infield player but also gives pitching and positional pipelines the necessary depth. As for Philly, it's about getting the most out of their core's prime years and making sure no door to a title run remains unopened.
The Perfect Blockbuster Trade Proposal:
Philles Receive:
- 2B Ketel Marte
Diamondbacks Receive:
- 2B Bryson Stott
- 2B Aroon Escobar
- RHP Jean Cabrera
This deal makes one of the deepest potential lineups in the National League by evening out the batting order and adding a switch hitter who excels in tight and decisive moments. An upgrade to an MVP-caliber talent like Marte is the sort of bold move that ends the “loser” cycle and starts the “winner” cycle, hence the decisive move that makes all the difference between champions and contenders.
The Phillies have the means, the will, and the right trade partner to pull this off before the Spring Training opener. If the end goal is a celebration down Broad Street, then this is the 11 blockbuster move they cannot afford not to make.
