The Rays Should Sign Brett Phillips

Many Tampa Bay Rays fans woke up today to the shocking news that fan favorite outfielder Randy Arozarena had been traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for minor league “prospects”, a deal announced at 1:23AM.

The team has struggled to reach and maintain a .500 winning percentage so far this year and as the 2024 season heads into August, their streak of making the postseason could be coming to an end at five seasons. For that reason, making a trade with an eye toward getting better in the future makes sense. The problem with that is the future is later and fans want to be entertained now.

For that reason, the Rays should sign former Ray free agent outfielder Brett Phillips to a contract immediately.

Phillips has been out of baseball since being released by the Chicago White Sox organization in May, so he’s available to step right in and start in left field replacing Arozarena.

Of course, any time you discuss replacing one player with another, an analytical comparison of statistics is in order…

So those were some stats. But here are some not-quite-so-statistical factors to take into consideration on Phillips behalf:

• Local – he’s from Seminole
• Hilarious 
• Good person
• Believes “Baseball Is Fun”
• Rays all-time leader in 9th inning, two-out, two-strike come-from-behind World Series game tying winning hits
• Once replied with positive feedback to another Tampa News Force article we wrote about him

It is our suggestion that the Tampa Bay Rays should sign Brett Phillips to a Major League Baseball contract today.