Thursday, October 1, 2026
79 ° Clear
79 ° Clear
It has been a wild ride through the first two months of the season for the Philadelphia Phillies. A disastrous start pushed them10 games below .500 costing Rob Thomson his job. However, under interim manager Don Mattingly, the team has turned the season around.
With an impressive 27-11 record over the last 38 games, good for the second-best record in baseball during that span, the Phillies have charged back into the thick of the Wild Card race.
With the August 3 trade deadline approaching, moved back from the traditional July 31 date, the conversation shifts to how can the Phillies upgrade the roster?
Once again, the wishlist for the Phillies starts with a familiar need…a right-handed bat.
The San Francisco Giants’ right-handed hitting utilityman has emerged as the team’s MVP this season thanks to a breakout year.
Slashing .284/.315/.534 with an .849 OPS and 135 wRC+, Schmitt has been fantastic for an otherwise struggling Giants team under first year manager Tony Vitello.
If you stack those numbers against the hitters in the Phillies lineup this is where Schmitt would rank:
-2nd in average (behind Brandon Marsh)
-2nd in slugging percentage (behind Kyle Schwarber)
-2nd in home runs
-3rd in RBIs
-Top 4 in OBP, OPS and wRC+
Simply put, Schmitt would be a top-five hitter in this Phillies lineup.
Defensively, he brings versatility. The 27-year-old has played in 23 games as the designated hitter, 18 in left field, 14 at first base, four at second base and three games each at third base and shortstop. He does not grade out as a Gold Glover, but he’s an everyday playable option that could give the Phillies flexibility.
This is where it gets complicated.
The Giants, if they were to even entertain a trade for Schmitt, would presumably command a hefty package in return.
Schmitt is surging and has two years of control after this season. The Giants could have a high asking price.
Before this season, Schmitt had never posted an OPS over .800 with his best season coming in 2024 (.760 OPS, 109 wRC+).
Buster Posey and the Giants’ front office might want to strike while the iron is hot.
The Phillies would potentially have to send over at least two top 15-20 prospects in their system to land Schmitt, if not more. Some would view it as an overpay depending on the names. Others would prefer the team to push all of their chips maximizing a championship window and not prospect hug.
The Alec Bohm era seemingly will come to a close at the end of this season barring a remarkable turnaround at the plate.
Meanwhile, Aidan Miller, expected to be the long-term solution at third base, is dealing with chronic back issues and recently had a minimally invasive procedure done to help alleviate the problem.
However, back injuries are unpredictable.
The former second round pick in 2020 out of San Diego State would serve as a short-term starter at third base, be a reliable utility option and insurance until Miller bounces back.
But, an addition of Schmitt could complicate the lineup construction for the Phillies. Schmitt would more than likely continue playing in a utility role for the Phillies this season causing Mattingly to shuffle his lineup on a nightly basis in order to get Schmitt’s bat in the lineup.
Unless the team somehow moves Bohm at the deadline to open third base for the utilityman.
This is a tougher sell.
The Giants more than likely see Schmitt as a potential inexpensive piece to build around banking that his big season this year is a step in the right direction.
Yet, the outlook of the 2026 campaign looks bleak in the Bay Area. The Giants are buried in the NL West sitting 15 ½ games out of first place behind the Dodgers and eight games out of the third and final Wild Card spot.
The team does have a bit of a log jam, however.
Matt Chapman is blocking Schmitt to play at his best position which is third base. Willy Adames was a high-priced acquisition who mans shortstop while Luis Arraez is playing second base. Rafael Devers and top prospect Bryce Eldridge are handling first base duties. Plus Heloit Ramos is nearing a return from the IL and he was the club’s every day starting left fielder prior to his injury.
It is tough to envision a scenario where the Giants would want to move on from Schmitt considering he has been their most consistent hitter in a low-scoring lineup. But the Phillies should make the call. Schmitt checks multiple boxes for a team trying to capitalize on a revitalized season.
If there’s a price to be met, Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies need to find out what it is.
