Dave Dombrowski makes interesting comments on Justin Crawford, Max Kepler post-deadline

The trade deadline has commenced. The Phillies made their moves.

They acquired Jhoan Duran and Harrison Bader from the Twins in two different trades, because of course. In the grand scheme of things, these are both valuable moves that will help the club. However, there still seems to be much to be desired.

Dave Dombrowski spoke following Thursday’s 6:00 p.m. deadline and made compelling remarks regarding the future of the Phillies’ outfield.

With their two moves, the Phils were able to retain their three most valuable prospects, Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, and Justin Crawford. Two of the three could help the Phils at some point this season. Painter is projected to get the call to the majors in the coming weeks and could be on the postseason roster in the bullpen. Crawford could also join the major league roster, but when?

“We think he’s ready to play at the big league level,” Dombrowski said of Crawford.

“We could bring him up. If we do bring him up, he needs to play a lot. I’m not sure that we’re in a position to do that at this point today, but he’s not somebody that we would hesitate to bring up if we decided that was the right thing to do.”

Huh?

Crawford with Lehigh Valley this season is hitting .325 with a .837 OPS — the 21-year-old flies in centerfield and around the basepath with 33 stolen bases this year.

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the Phillies have had quite the rotation of center/left fielders. Max Kepler, Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas, Weston Wilson, and Otto Kemp. Outside of Marsh, none have proven they can play every day for a World Series-contending roster.

Crawford can easily play every day. He can play full-time in center or left. Bader does not have to be a starter. Why not try it out for a few weeks? If Crawford struggles, this lineup is too talented for it to drag everyone else down. And besides, it is August. You are 61-47. There is still more than enough time to try some things out.

Or, do the Phillies not want to do what they did to Rojas by hindering his development by not having him out there every day?

It is simple. You bring up Crawford, cut your losses with Kepler, and designate him for assignment. Marsh and Bader platoon in left, Crawford in center, and Nick Castellanos in right, and you see what happens.

But if Dombrowski does not see this, then why did he not attempt to deal Crawford prior to the deadline? If he is not going to play, and this is the year you have to go “all-in,” it would have been appropriate to get a top-tier outfielder, like Luis Robert Jr. or Steven Kwan, and deal Crawford.

However, it sounds like the Phillies would rather give him the call as a September call-up and nail postseason desires on a guy who has never had an at-bat in the majors.

Sounds great.

Oh, and Kepler?

“He’s playing left field for us at this time,” Dombrowski said Thursday. “He’s actually been swinging the bat a little bit better, particularly versus right-handed pitching. But he’s part of our roster at this time.”

Over his last 47 at-bats, Kepler has eight hits, one of them being a homer, along with three RBIs, good for a slashline of .170/.268/.234. And he is swinging the bat better? This season, Kepler’s OPS is .655, and he has posted a -0.3 WAR.

Now, he could be DFA’d Friday as the corresponding move to activate Duran and Bader to the 26-man roster. This roster does not scream that, however.

Unfortunately, Grace Del Pizzo of On Pattison might be preaching the correct message.

The Phillies think Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford will both have an IMMEDIATE impact once called up.

For better or for worse, I think that’s the main takeaway from this trade deadline.

— Grace Del Pizzo (@GraceDelPizzo) July 31, 2025

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