The Philadelphia Phillies have been rumored to be looking for outfield help this winter. Whether via free agency or the robust trade market.
One name that has been thrown around is a possibility was that of St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill.
However, that will likely no longer be a possibility as Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports that O’Neill has been traded to the Boston Red Sox.
However, the return is not known, so it will be interesting to see just what the Red Sox gave up for O’Neill. Perhaps it could have been too much for Philadelphia to match.
O’Neill was the apparent odd man out in St. Louis, despite owning a career .776 OPS and a 112 OPS+, 12-percent above MLB average.
The righty spent most of his time in left or center field and is a relatively versatile defender.
His above average approach at the plate coupled with his defensive capabilities made him a decent fit for the Phillies to help alleviate the defensive liabilities of Kyle Schwarber in left while having the ability to also play in center.
At this point in time, the only other option that has gained any type of traction in helping with the outfield situation is Adam Duvall. But nothing seems imminent other than some potential interest on the Phillies end while making sense from a fit standpoint.