PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies’ outfield depth is so paper thin they made a trade on Thursday.
They acquired center fielder Derek Hill and international bonus money from the White Sox for outfield prospect Dylan Campbell and infield prospect José Colmenares, neither of whom ranked on the Phillies' Top 30 Prospects list per MLB Pipeline. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Jackson Rutledge was designated for assignment.
The trade came less than 24 hours after Adolis García injured his right shoulder making a throw to home plate on Wednesday night in Toronto. García was scheduled for imaging on Thursday, although those results were not expected until Friday.
“Hope for the best,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said in Toronto.
Hill, 30, batted .213 with four home runs, eight RBIs and a .659 OPS in 50 games this season with Chicago. But Hill, who hits right-handed, also batted .245 with a .789 OPS against lefties this year and owns a .780 OPS against them in 295 career plate appearances.
The Phillies’ lack of production against lefties has been a season-long concern.
So has their outfield depth.
The Phillies had only three healthy outfielders on the 40-man roster who could replace García if he lands on the 10-day injured list: Otto Kemp, Felix Reyes and prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. Neither Kemp or Reyes are strong defenders, and both struggled in limited action this season in the big leagues.
Rincones has played only 22 games this season following offseason leg issues.
Hill could see time in center field and right field with Brandon Marsh playing every day in left.