BALTIMORE -- Last Monday, Bryce Harper pointed to the back of his locker at loanDepot park in Miami.
There sat his outfielder’s glove.
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“Just in case they make a trade,” Harper said.
Harper said he was ready to return to the outfield, if the Phillies found an upgrade for the offense. It’s happening. The Phillies made two trades on Monday morning, just hours before the 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. The Phillies acquired second baseman Luis Arraez and right-hander Caleb Kilian from the Giants for prospects Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair. They also acquired left-hander Brooks Raley from the Mets for prospects John Spikerman and Luke Gabrysh.
TRADE DETAILS
Phillies receive: INF Luis Arraez, RHP Caleb Kilian
Giants receive: RHP Ramon Marquez (SF's No. 7 prospect), RHP Marty Gair
Phillies receive: LHP Brooks Raley
Mets receive: OF John Spikerman (NYM's No. 26 prospect), RHP Luke Gabrysh
Manager Don Mattingly said on Monday that Harper will transition to right field, where he hasn't played since 2022 after suffering a right elbow injury. Alec Bohm will move from third base to first base and Bryson Stott from second to third.
It is no secret the Phillies needed help offensively. They are tied for 28th in the Major Leagues with a .304 on-base percentage. They are 16th in baseball, averaging 4.38 runs per game. They also have scored one or zero runs 26 times this season, which is third in baseball.
They needed somebody who can get on base and put the ball in play.
Arraez can do that.
Arraez, who will be a free agent after the season, is batting .324 with four home runs, 43 RBIs and an .800 OPS. He has walked 25 times and struck out 21 times in 464 plate appearances. His strikeout rate (4.5 percent) is by far the lowest out of 150 qualified hitters in baseball.
Arraez won three straight league batting titles from 2022-24. Once he joins two-time batting champion Trea Turner in the lineup, the Phillies will become the first team with two multiple batting title winners to appear in the same season since the 1986 Reds (Pete Rose and Dave Parker).
Kilian is 3-6 with a 4.26 ERA in 45 appearances, striking out 53 and walking 20 in 44 1/3 innings. Raley is 5-5 with a 1.96 ERA, striking out 40 and walking 15 in 41 1/3 innings. Raley has been effective against both left-handers (.542 OPS) and right-handers (.637 OPS) this season.
Marquez was the Phillies’ No. 4 prospect in the system. Spikerman ranked 27th. Gair and Gabrysh were not ranked.
To make room for Arraez, Kilian and Raley on the 40-man roster, the Phillies announced that right-handers Lou Trivino and Nolan Hoffman and catcher Payton Henry were designated for assignment.