Report: Philadelphia Phillies interested in Tampa Bay Rays Outfielder Phillips

The Philadelphia Phillies reached out to the Tampa Bay Rays to check in on a defensive upgrade for center field.

The Philadelphia Phillies are searching for an upgrade defensively in the outfield, in centerfield to be precise. Following the Tampa Bay Rays' acquisition of outfielder José Siri from the Houston Astros, the Rays DFA'd center fielder Brett Phillips to make room.

Per Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies are one of the clubs interested in making a trade for Phillips to help bolster their outfield defensively. 

Phillips has slashed just .147/.225/.250 this season at the plate, but he is an elite defender in center field, he has 38 DRS in six seasons playing the outfield. He would likely be added solely for late inning defensive switches.

It is not the splashy or marquee trade Philadelphia fans are yearning for ahead of Tuesday's MLB trade deadline, but it is one area the Phillies will need to improve in if they hope to make a deep postseason run come October.

More From SI's Inside The Phillies:

1. How Mike Trout Will Join the Phillies
2. Have the Philadelphia Phillies Found Their Centerfielder of the Future?
3. Andrew Painter is Off to a Historic Start
4. Could The Phillies Soon Be Playing in Wawa Park?
5. 18-Year-Old Phillies Prospect is Making History
6. How did Philadelphia end up with Citizens Bank Park?
7. How the Phillie Phanatic Came to be America's Favorite Sports Mascot
8. This Unlikely Draft Pick Could be the Final Piece in the Phillies Next Blockbuster Trade
9. Picking the Phillies' All-Time Single Season Lineup
10. Drawing Comparisons to Harper, Phillies Prospect Wilson is Heating Up

---

Make sure to follow Inside the Phillies on Substack and Twitter!