PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies have admired Christian Yelich for a long time, and it's no secret they would love to have him in their outfield.
But could the Phils actually trade for him before Spring Training?
Sources said the Phillies have called the Marlins about Yelich and continue to keep tabs on him. Yelich checks pretty much every box for the Phillies. Of course, he checks pretty much every box for every other team, too.
Yelich has a 120 OPS+ over his first five seasons in the big leagues. He has a career .369 on-base percentage, which would fit beautifully atop the Phillies' lineup with Carlos Santana, Rhys Hoskins and Cesar Hernandez. Yelich is regarded as a good defender, as well, having won a Gold Glove Award in 2014. Plus, he is just 26 and is owed a very club-friendly $44.5 million through 2021.
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A source told MLB.com recently that the Marlins will trade Yelich only if they receive a "huge overpay," and the Marlins would be foolish to accept anything less. But while the Phillies might be more willing to overpay for an everyday player compared to a pitcher, they may not want to unload their farm system for one player at this point.
Despite a boost in expectations following the hiring of manager Gabe Kapler and the signing of Santana, the Phillies probably aren't on the cusp of winning the World Series. They are not just one player away from having a parade down Broad Street, like they believed they were when they acquired Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence. The Phils still have plenty of question marks, even though they have promising young talents like Hoskins, J.P. Crawford, Nick Williams and Jorge Alfaro.
It is easier to see a 2017 postseason team or a team that considers itself one piece away from making the postseason giving the Marlins what they want.
Then again, the Phillies do have a deep farm system. Perhaps the Marlins like their prospects more than other organizations' prospects. The most likely scenario is still the Phillies finding a starting pitcher before Spring Training and Hoskins, Odubel Herrera, Aaron Altherr and Williams comprising the club's outfield.