The Phillies pulled off a couple of trades Monday morning as Major League Baseball’s 6 p.m. deadline for making deals approached.
Sources confirmed that the Phils acquired three-time batting champion Luis Arraez from the San Francisco Giants for a pair of pitching prospects, right-handers Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair.
Arraez, who leads the National League with a .324 batting average, is expected to play second base as part of a remade Phillies’ infield. Bryson Stott is expected to move to third base, Alec Bohm to first and Bryce Harper to right field. A source said Harper has agreed to move to the outfield.
In addition to Arraez, the Phillies added right-handed reliever Caleb Kilian in the deal with San Francisco. Kilian has pitched at the back of games. He has eight saves this season for the Giants and a 4.26 ERA in 45 games. He has racked up 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings but walked 4.1 batters per nine.
Arraez, 29, has won batting titles with Minnesota and Miami (twice). He will bring some much-needed offense and on-base skills to a Phillies team that ranks second-to-last in the majors with a .304 on-base percentage. He is a free agent at the end of the season.
In a separate deal Monday, the Phils acquired left-handed reliever Brooks Raley from the New York Mets for outfielder John Spikerman and right-hander Luke Gabrysh. Raley, 38, was having a strong season with the Mets. He has a 1.96 ERA in 45 games. Lefty hitters are batting just .186 against him.
The Phils made both deals Monday without sacrificing pitcher Andrew Painter or top pitching prospect Gage Wood. Sources say both pitchers have been coveted by both other clubs. The Phils did surrender Marquez, a 20-year-old right-hander who has had a breakout season at the Single A level. Marquez is 6-1 with a 1.68 ERA and a 0.814 WHIP in 59 innings this season. He has struck out 14.2 batters per nine innings and walked 2.9 per nine.
The Phillies might not be done. Sources say they are still looking to add pitching, possibly a starter. Painter went back into the No. 5 role Friday night and could stay there, but starting pitching depth remains an issue for the club.
More coming …