Phillies Trade Idea Lands Pirates' Oneil Cruz as Max Kepler's Replacement
Phillies Trade Idea Lands Pirates' Oneil Cruz as Max Kepler's Replacement originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Max Kepler made a ridiculous comment regarding his playing time after the Philadelphia Phillies' disastrous performance against the Houston Astros. Despite his struggles this season, he had complained that the Phillies misled him and that he deserves the starting role in left field.
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Kepler is disgruntled, and the Phillies could be looking for his replacement. One solution for Jim Riley of Ballcap Sports could be found in a trade idea with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Riley presented a trade idea to send Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz to the Phillies in exchange for Mick Abel, Aroon Escobar, and Dylan Campbell. While landing Cruz would be a nice addition, especially since he's under control through 2028, the players given up would be a lot.
Abel is the Phillies' fifth-ranked prospect and has been solid in the Major Leagues since his call-up. His 3.47 ERA in five starts is a solid start to his MLB career, which, a year ago, looked like it was going up in smoke.
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Campbell is the Phillies' 30th-ranked prospect and an outfielder with a .702 OPS between High-A and Double-A this season. The real prospect going to the Pirates is Escobar.
While the team's 13th-ranked prospect, he's been raking in the Minors this year. In 2025, his .832 OPS is a solid mark, and he's been a riser in the Phillies system this year. Losing him would sting, but the player the Phillies are getting back is no slouch.
Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Max Kepler (17) looks to see if he hit the ball fair or foul in the fourth inning as Miami Marlins catcher Agustín Ramírez (50) looks on at loanDepot Park.Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Cruz is one of the game's more exciting players. His speed and power are incredibly appealing, as he can score at any moment in any game. While he's been lazy defensively at times, moving to a postseason contender might help him get into the games more than languishing in Pittsburgh.
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Despite Cruz not playing at his best this year, he still has decent numbers. In 74 games, Cruz has a .210 batting average, 15 home runs, and an NL-leading 27 stolen bases. Cruz also has a 104 OPS+, showing he's an above-average batter this year.
With their major outfield issues, the Phillies could benefit greatly from landing Cruz. While the package Riley presented would be a lot, for 3.5 years of Cruz, the Phillies would have a fun outfield option for the foreseeable future.
In a season where the Phillies are looking to win the World Series, this trade idea would help bolster a struggling offense and provide a spark to the team in one of the most electrifying players in baseball.
Related: Dream Phillies Trade Idea Lands Twins Superstar for Ascending Mick Abel
Related: Phillies' Max Kepler Doubles Down on Ridiculous Comments
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
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