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1 Phillies player who must be traded to fix underperforming roster
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Just a few weeks into the 2026 season, the Philadelphia Phillies ' path back to the top of the NL East has hit a few speed bumps. The Phillies are currently 16-20, tied with the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals for second in the division. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves already hold a nine-and-a-half game advantage over those three teams, plus a 12-game gap over the last-place New York Mets .
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The Phillies' scuffling offense has been one of the major reasons for their slow start. According to WAR, left fielder Brandon Marsh has been the team's best performer, with 1.2 so far this season. The veteran's .322 average leads the team, ahead of star teammates such as Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper .
Injuries really haven't played a role in the Phillies' offensive decline either. The majority of their starting lineup has played in almost every game, except for a time share at catcher between veteran J.T. Realmuto and Rafael Marchan . So, if availability isn't an issue, how can Philadelphia's president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski , boost this flagging attack? By doing what he's historically done: utilizing the Phillies' prospect depth to bring in another difference maker. This time, trading top infield prospect Aidan Miller should be Dombrowski's first choice.
Trading Aidan Miller should boost the Phillies' slumping roster
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
At the moment, Miller is on the shelf. The Phillies' top prospect is currently dealing with a back issue and has yet to make his 2026 debut. Last year, the former first-round pick continued his rapid ascent through the minors. By the end of the campaign, Miller was in Triple-A, making his mark with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
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Now, as the Phillies look to bolster their underperforming offense, Dombrowski has to weigh waiting for Miller to come back or trading him. There's no guarantee that the 21-year-old will arrive at Citizens Bank Park this year, although many have predicted he'd do so. His back has bothered him on a few occasions to this point. It's safe to wonder if it will continue throughout his career as well.
If Dombrowski used Miller as the centerpiece of a deal, then the return would likely be a big one. Last summer, the veteran head of baseball ops did his usual wheeling and dealing. The trade for closer Jhoan Duran led a series of moves that helped the Phillies capture yet another NL East title. Would trading Miller help catapult the struggling Philly lineup?
It's certainly a question worth exploring, not to mention answering. Improvement across the roster, most notably at second and third base, plus the outfield, needs to happen. If Dombrowski trades Miller in a package to get back a bat such as the Cleveland Guardians ' Steven Kwan or the Minnesota Twins ' Byron Buxton , will it push the Phillies back towards contention? If so, then it's a deal that needs to be made as soon as possible. Or else, Philadelphia's 2026 campaign could be yet another wasted season with an ever-aging core.
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