Through the first 12 games of the season, the Philadelphia Phillies have faced some noticeable challenges, with one of the most pressing being the lack of offensive output from their outfield. A potential solution to this issue could come in the form of a trade for St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar. At 27 years old and in his first year of arbitration, Nootbaar wouldn’t become a free agent until 2028, giving the Phillies three full seasons of control post-trade.
The Cardinals, who have an overcrowded outfield and a struggling pitching staff, may be open to dealing Nootbaar in exchange for pitching depth. The Phillies, on the other hand, are in clear need of an outfield boost and could be an ideal destination for the left-handed hitting Nootbaar—despite previous interest in right-handed bats. Brandon Marsh has struggled significantly, batting just .133, which opens the door for Nootbaar to take over as the everyday center fielder, even though he primarily plays the corner spots and has only part-time experience in center.
So far in 2025, Nootbaar is off to a strong start, batting .271 with 13 hits, two homers, 10 runs scored, and six RBIs. He holds a solid .803 OPS and an even strikeout-to-walk ratio (8:8), making him a clear offensive upgrade over Marsh.
To acquire Nootbaar, the Phillies would likely need to part with at least a top-30 prospect, possibly headlined by pitcher Mick Abel. With Philadelphia in win-now mode and possessing a deep rotation, moving Abel could be a justifiable move. Overall, adding Nootbaar would address one of the team’s biggest weaknesses and bolster their playoff push, all while being a cost-effective move with team control extending for several seasons.