The Philadelphia Phillies have been looking for another consistent option in the outfield for a couple of years now, and this offseason they could actually land one.
When the team acquired Luis Arraez, it moved Bryce Harper back to the outfield, helping the team with its offensive output from the outfield for the time being. However, if they lose Arraez in free agency, they will once again be looking for upgrades in the outfield. CBS Sports' Mike Axisa listed the Phillies as a potential landing spot for Seiya Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs in free agency.
Brandon Marsh was an All-Star this year, but outside of him, the Phillies do not really have any reliable outfielders going into next year, unless Harper sticks to playing in the outfield. Justin Crawford has a .263 batting average, but his OPS is below .700, and he can't hit lefties. Suzuki is 32 years old, but he has put together five really good seasons in the big leagues.
In 661 games with the Cubs, he has a .823 OPS and 11 home runs. He is not the best defender, but could be a great right-handed bat in the Phillies lineup. His defense has been surprisingly good this year, and he draws a ton of walks.
Adding a player like him into a lineup with Kyle Schwarber and Harper could be huge for the Phillies as they look to win a World Series. Suzuki ranks in the 90th percentile for chase rate and the 91st percentile for walk rate. The Phillies have never shied away from spending, and they should make a strong push for Suzuki. He is eligible for a qualifying offer, however.
