The Philadelphia Phillies begin a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays Friday, August 7 at 6:40 P.M. EST.
After a busy trade deadline, the Phillies are looking a bit different. Not necessarily because of their roundup of blockbuster trades, but because of the internal changes that came with them.
The Phillies acquired former San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez, someone who was not initially on their radar. In terms of position players, an infielder–let alone a left-handed second baseman–was not the top priority for president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
Now that Arraez is here, it has caused a lot of shifting. Including, moving veteran Bryce Harper, who had a lot to say about the team’s trade deadline needs, back to right field
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Bryce Harper Issues Apology to Dave Dombrowski About Phillies’ Trade Deadline Needs
The Athletic’s senior writer Jayson Stark, discusses that Bryce Harper apologized to Dave Dombrowski about his public discussion of the Philadelphia Phillies’ trade deadline needs.
“I talked to him on (Friday) night when we were in Baltimore, and just had a chance to chat with him,” Dombrowski said of him and Harper’s conversation. “And he said, ‘Dave, I didn’t mean … that wasn’t a personal comment. I just felt we needed help.’ And I said, ‘You know, I get it.’”
The conversation between Harper and Dombrowski happened on August 2, the day before the MLB trade deadline. Dombrowski explains that Harper’s message was emotional.
“Because I’ve done it for a while, I think you learn that … that’s just today’s world,” Dombrowski said of Harper. “I mean, guys, when they say things, they’re so much more emotional… you need to make sure that people aren’t saying it from an emotional perspective.”
Dombrowski recounts that his conversation with Harper was a catalyst in the decision to trade for Luis Arraez. The plan for this trade deadline was to grab a left-handed outfielder, and thanks to a conversation with Harper, Dombrowski did the exact opposite. He snagged a right-handed contact hitting infielder.
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Luis Arraez Impact on Phillies
For years, Luis Arraez has been one of the MLB’s best contact hitters. He was the first player in history to have won the batting title in three consecutive seasons. In 2022 with the Minnesota Twins, 2023 with the Miami Marlins, and 2024 with the San Diego Padres.
Now Arraez has found himself on his fifth MLB team in seven seasons, the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies acquired Arraez and pitcher Caleb Killian for prospects Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair.
In just three games, Arraez is 5-for-13 with a home run, four RBIs, and two doubles. Arraez is batting cleanup for the Phillies, and unusual spot compared to the other teams he has been on. But it has been working perfectly.
His impact is bettering the players around him, including Bryce Harper, who has walked five times in 10 plate appearances with Arraez batting behind him.
“He’s the first player to have 1+ hit and 1+ RBI in his first three games with the Phillies since … Mike Benjamin in 1996,” Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki said of Arraez on X.
Arraez continues his midseason tear against the Toronto Blue Jays tonight.
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