A Philadelphia Phillies creative trade candidate has been mentioned by Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN in a recent article. Passan and McDaniel listed the Phillies as a trade fit for San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman. Passan and McDaniel wrote that Chapman has a 25% chance of being traded this year. Chapman is currently in his age-33 season and is under contract through the 2030 season. As Passan and McDaniel note money is an issue in a Chapman trade because he is owed $100 million total in those remaining years. Chapman initially signed the $151 million deal in 2024.
The Giants are open to offers for their three highest-paid position players — Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Matt Chapman — among other obvious trade candidates, like Luis Arraez and Robbie Ray.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 16, 2026
This season Chapman has a .260/.346/.412 line with seven home runs and 40 RBI in 72 games entering play on June 17. Chapman has a 115 wRC+ and a .311 BABIP this season as well. Furthermore Chapman has a career best 20.6% strikeout rate and a 10.6% walk rate. Defensively Chapman has 13 DRS/1 OAA/3 FRV this season. Chapman leads qualified third baseman in Defensive Runs Saved entering play on June 17. The Phillies defensively are underperforming and trading for Chapman could help address that. Chapman is one of the best defensive third baseman in baseball and is having a respectable season at the plate.
Phillies Creative Trade Candidate
Recent Injury Changing The Equation
With Adolis García being on the 60-day injured list the Phillies have a hole to fill in right field. Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Derek Hill are taking over the playing time for now. García has not officially been ruled out for the season. However, it is not out of the question that García does not come back from injury this year. With that in mind having Rincones or Hill occupy a spot in the lineup every game is not sustainable. This is where the Phillies creative trade ideas can come into play. With the right-handed hitting outfield market being thin turning to someone like Chapman could be a better trade option for the Phillies.
Broader Implications Of A Potential Trade For Chapman
If the Phillies do end up trading for Chapman it would mean one of two things, either Alec Bohm is dealt or Bryce Harper ends up back in the outfield. This will be a critical choice for the Phillies to make before the August 3 trade deadline. With the uncertainty of the injury timeline for García the Phillies should be open to moving Harper back to the outfield. Chapman should become more intriguing as a Phillies creative trade candidate now. Unless the Phillies completely reorganize a section of their lineup trading Bohm is less feasible after the García injury. The most likely outcome in this scenario is that Bohm moves to first base.
Why Chapman Is The Best Fit If The Phillies Make A Deal With The Giants
Unlike other Giants trade candidates Rafael Devers and Luis Arraez, Chapman is a right-handed bat. In addition to that moving Bohm to first base is more feasible than potentially moving Bryson Stott to third base. Devers does not make sense at all for the Phillies, but some have mentioned Arraez as someone the Phillies should look into. In the end this Phillies creative trade scenario is dependent on the team being willing to move Harper back to the outfield. If the Phillies will not move Harper back to the outfield none of this matters though.
Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
