Will Justin Crawford, Andrew Painter Break Camp?

"Crawford is coming off a fantastic Triple-A season. He hit .334/.411/.452 while stealing 46 bases (albeit with 11 times caught). He walked in nearly 12% of his trips to the plate against a lower than average 18% strikeout rate. The lefty hitter only connected on seven home runs because his swing is geared to hit almost everything on the ground."

"Prospect evaluators had varying opinions on Crawford earlier in his minor league days. He was a first-round pick (and the son of a four-time All-Star), so he has certainly had his share of acclaim, but the unconventional offensive approach gave some scouts pause. It has played at every minor league stop, raising the confidence level that Crawford can continue to hit against the highest level arms."

"Crawford probably would have made his big league debut late last season if the Phillies hadn't acquired Bader. He enters Spring Training as the favorite to start in center field on Opening Day, pushing Brandon Marsh to left field. The Phillies could shield him from left-handed pitching on occasion but are planning for him to be a regular."

The Phillies retained core players Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto while making minimal external additions of Adolis García, Brad Keller, and Jonathan Bowlan. They released Ranger Suárez, Harrison Bader, Matt Strahm, and Nick Castellanos, deliberately opening roster spots for talented young prospects. Justin Crawford, a 22-year-old lefty hitter, excelled in Triple-A with a .334 average, .411 on-base percentage, and 46 stolen bases. His unconventional ground-ball approach generated debate among scouts early in his career, but consistent minor league success at every level demonstrates offensive viability. Crawford enters spring training as the favorite to start in center field on Opening Day, with the Phillies planning to use him as a regular player.

Read at MLB Trade Rumors