Phillies Trade Idea Replaces Max Kepler With D-Backs' Lourdes Gurriel
Phillies Trade Idea Replaces Max Kepler With D-Backs' Lourdes Gurriel originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Philadelphia Phillies will have to hope that multiple teams sell at the deadline.
One of them could be the Arizona Diamondbacks, and there's a player on their roster who could fit in well with Philadelphia. That player is none other than Lourdes Gurriel Jr, a left fielder who has swung the bat at a high level throughout his career.
Advertisement
Gurriel will never impress anyone too much with his numbers, but he's a steady big leaguer with a .277 average and a 112 career OPS+.
There's a reason he's been in the league for eight years and looks to have many more seasons ahead of him. At 31 years old, he could be somebody the Phillies rely on for the next year or two.
In a proposed trade idea from Tim Kelly of OnPattison, he spoke about how the Phillies could get creative on the trade market, adding that Gurriel could be a potential option for them to pursue.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Max Kepler (17) doubles against the New York Yankees in the first inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field.Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
"Gurriel was an All-Star in 2023, and drove in 11 runs in the postseason as the Snakes made a shocking run past the Phillies and into the World Series. After that, the Diamondbacks re-signed him to a three-year/$42 million deal that includes a player opt-out after 2025 and a $14 million club option for 2027," Kelly wrote.
Advertisement
"The thing about Gurriel is if you trade for him, he's going to be your everyday left fielder. He would be an upgrade over Kepler, but with a .747 OPS since the start of the 2024 season, perhaps not enough to justify taking on the remainder of his contract."
His contract is a bit worrisome, as Kelly mentioned, but sometimes, teams have to deal with financial issues to win a World Series.
If the Phillies think he can be their everyday left fielder and would be an upgrade over somebody like Max Kepler, there's reason to believe this type of trade makes sense.
Related: Phillies Trade Idea Lands Blue Jays Star, Replaces Alec Bohm
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Shohei Ohtani notches 6 strikeouts in 3 simulated innings against live batters as he ramps up return to mound
Shohei Ohtani was back on the mound on Tuesday as he ramps up his return to pitching in an actual MLB game. By most accounts he looked pretty good. Ohtani pitched three simulated innings against live minor league batters at Petco Park Tuesday afternoon prior to the NL West tilt between his Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. Advertisement Per and The Athletic, Ohtani threw 44 pitches. Per The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, Ohtani allowed one hit and one walk and threw a wild pitch. He recorded six of his nine outs via strikeout. Here's video of a swinging strike to record the final out of his session: Again, the effort was against minor league batters during batting practice. But it's another encouraging sign for the Dodgers and their fans eager to see the two-way superstar pitch in Dodger blue for the first time. Tuesday's simulated innings were Ohtani's first on the mound since a May 31 session that went two innings. It was his third time overall throwing a live batting practice session and the first time he's exceeded two innings. Advertisement Ohtani's pitching work was previously limited to bullpen sessions that didn't involve batters. So when will Ohtani actually pitch? There were no immediate updates from the Dodgers after Ohtani's session on Tuesday. Roberts previously said after Ohtani's May 31 session that he'll need to reach "five or six" simulated innings before the Dodgers consider putting him into an actual baseball game. Shohei Ohtani continues to progress on the mound, but a return timeline to pitching in an actual game remains unclear. (AP Photo/Joe Puetz) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) '[He] used his entire mix, take some hitters up, down and came out of it well, which is most important,' Roberts said on May 31. 'I think he wishes his command would have been a little bit better. But a really positive day for Shohei. Advertisement 'You still got to get to five or six innings, so we still got a ways to go. … I didn't ask what the velocity was, I would think a safe guess is somewhere in the mid 90s.' Ohtani hasn't pitched in a game since August 23, 2023, when he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels. He underwent surgery a month later for the second time to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018. Ohtani signed with the Dodgers the following offseason and earned his third MVP after a historic 50-50 season at the plate. The Dodgers went on to a World Series championship, Ohtani's first. Ohtani's off to another sensational start at the plate that includes an NL-best 23 home runs through Monday. But his return to the mound is still unclear as his absence approaches the two-year mark. Advertisement A 40-27 Dodgers team leading a tight race in the NL West could certainly use the pitching services of Ohtani, who's at an All-Star level at his best. But don't expect them to throw caution to the wind. They won't put Ohtani on the mound until they and their medical staff are fully convinced that he's ready. In the meantime, the Dodgers and their fans can take solace in Ohtani's quest for a fourth MVP at the plate.
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Texans C.J. Gardner-Johnson Doesn't Hold Back on Eagles Trade Ahead of Minicamp
Texans C.J. Gardner-Johnson Doesn't Hold Back on Eagles Trade Ahead of Minicamp originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Over offseason after their Super Bowl LIX win, the Philadelphia Eagles shocked the NFL world with the trade of a key safety that helped hold off the Kansas City Chiefs. Advertisement The Eagles traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans in exchange for former first-round pick Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round selection, even after Gardner-Johnson posted six interceptions last season. Months after the trade, Gardner-Johnson has talked about the trade and even took to social media recently to seemingly respond to comments made by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. At a workout and interview with Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Gardner-Johnson talked about being "disrespected" by the offseason buzz. "I feel highly disrespected, but it's a business,' Gardner-Johnson said. 'Never was an All-Pro or Pro Bowl! Never! Led the league in interceptions. What more do you want? Advertisement 'People say, 'He's a hazard, he's this, he's that.' I never been no hazard, bro. They got no real issues on me. That black ball ain't going to work on me, because I got me a ring. I got me one. I got three more championships in me. I'm probably going to win the next three. I'm going to get me another Super Bowl this year. Just watch.' Gardner-Johnson, 27, has set his sights on Super Bowl LX with the Texans. Houston is a franchise with a talented roster, especially its stacked defense, but they've never reached the AFC title game before with six losses in the divisional round of the playoffs. Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson before Super Bowl Streicher-Imagn Images Regardless, Gardner-Johnson is eager to join head coach DeMeco Ryans' squad and make an immediate impact. Advertisement "I can't speak for everybody, but I know that we're gonna get in there and be at the top at the end of the year and have a chance to compete for a championship," Gardner-Johnson said. 'I think that's why I'm here. I'm proud to be a Texan. I want to make coach Ryans proud. Coming together and trying to win one together, it would be kind of amazing.' Related: C.J. Stroud Puts Injury Concerns to Rest This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Red Sox Projected to Trade $38.5 Million All-Star Pitcher After Kristian Campbell News
Red Sox Projected to Trade $38.5 Million All-Star Pitcher After Kristian Campbell News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Any games featuring Boston Red Sox teammates Kristian Campbell and Lucas Giolito, at least in the short term, will feature Campbell at second base and Giolito on the mound. Advertisement Whether or not that partnership will continue past the trade deadline, though, remains to be seen. Although Campbell's future in Boston is safe given his top prospect status, Giolito is a pending free agent on a team potentially destined for a fourth losing season in six years. Could, and would, the 29-33 Red Sox wave the white flag and fully pivot to a Campbell-led future? If so, Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer won't be surprised to see Boston trade Giolito ahead of the July 31 deadline. Giolito, who turns 31 next month, owns a 4.78 ERA and 26-10 K-BB ratio over 32 innings. He's a long way removed from the young pitcher who earned All-Star honors with the Chicago White Sox in 2019, and it's been four years since his last above-average season. Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas GiolitoDale Zanine-Imagn Images "He's at least an innings-eater," Rymer argued, "and it probably wouldn't be hard to get Boston to eat some of his $19 million salary." Advertisement Indeed, Giolito is in the final year of a two-year, $38.5 million contract. The Red Sox (or whoever holds his rights come the offseason) also have a $14 million club option if he throws fewer than 140 innings. However, that becomes a $19 million mutual option if he hits that innings mark. Giolito signed that contract before missing all of last year with right elbow surgery. The inconsistent Red Sox are already making significant moves, announcing Monday that Campbell won't receive reps at first base after all. Instead, manager Alex Cora made it clear they're keeping Campbell at second. Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow notably backed Cora over the weekend amid repeated calls for a managerial change. Advertisement Time is running out for Campbell, Giolito, and the Red Sox to right the ship. Boston enters Tuesday trailing by nine games in the AL East, and the Red Sox are 4.5 games out of the AL's third and final Wild Card spot. Related: Red Sox Make Major Kristian Campbell Announcement Before Monday's Game Related: Padres Reportedly Interested in Making Major All-Star Trade After Gavin Sheets Injury This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
