Despite the new August 31 date and all the uncertainty about how player movement would be impacted by the circumstances of the pandemic-shortened season, the lead-up to the 2020 trade deadline went more or less the same as deadlines past. Some big names switched uniforms, non-contenders looked to dump salary and add prospects, and just about as always, one unheralded trade ended up paying big dividends in October.
On August 27, the Rays made a move to shore up their bench depth by acquiring Brett Phillips from the Royals in exchange for infield prospect Lucius Fox. It was one of several seemingly minor swaps Tampa Bay made prior to the August 31 deadline, and while the Rays were already coasting towards a postseason spot by that point, the argument could have been made that a bigger move was necessary to boost their chances at a championship.
Little did we know, the Phillips trade was that move. Phillips’ ninth-inning RBI single last night started a wild, game-deciding sequence and an 8-7 comeback victory for Tampa in Game 4 of the World Series. After entering the game as a pinch-runner in the previous inning, Phillips’ first plate appearance since October 7 resulted in his entry into instant legend status in Rays history.
Not bad for a player who was primarily seen as a defensive and pinch-running specialist at the time of his acquisition. In fact, it’s not bad for a 26-year-old player playing for his fourth different organization, which is perhaps why Phillips was such an unlikely candidate to deliver the Rays’ biggest hit.
Originally a sixth-round pick for the Astros in the 2012 draft, Phillips began to turn heads after a very impressive 2014 season at the A-ball and high-A levels. He continued to produce into 2015, and while this breakout might have made him into a building block for the rebuilding Astros if it had happened a bit earlier in Phillips’ career, by 2015 the Astros were looking to win. As such, Houston made a major trade deadline swap with the Brewers that sent Phillips, Josh Hader, Domingo Santana, and Adrian Houser to Milwaukee in exchange for Carlos Gomez, Mike Fiers, and $287,500 in international bonus pool money.
The Astros went on to reach the postseason that year, falling to the Royals in the ALDS, yet the aftershocks of this trade continue to reverberate around baseball. Gomez ended up being something of a disappointment for Houston that year, though Fiers went on to become a solid member of the Astros’ rotation through their 2017 World Series-winning season and then…well, you know the rest. On Milwaukee’s end of the deal, Hader developed into one of the game’s best relief aces, Hauser has emerged as an intriguing starter, and Santana delivered some solid production over 351 games for the Brew Crew before he was traded to the Mariners in the 2018-19 offseason.
The one weak link of the Brewers’ trade return, however, was Phillips. There was no doubt that Phillips had MLB-caliber speed and glovework, except after a promising .799 OPS over 98 plate appearances in 2017, he struggled badly the next season and found himself on the move again.
This time, Phillips was headed to Kansas City (along with right-hander Jorge Lopez) in another deadline deal, as Milwaukee picked up Mike Moustakas for the pennant race. The Moose was a key part of a Brewers team that came within a game of the 2018 NL pennant, and the Brew Crew reached the playoffs again in 2019 thanks in large part to Moustakas’ All-Star season. For Phillips, he found himself on another rebuilding team with another opportunity at a fresh start, yet he again couldn’t capitalize — Phillips hit .178/.256/.308 over 236 PA spanning three seasons with the Royals.
As a player who relied on doubles and triples rather than homers, Phillips wasn’t quite a “three true outcomes” player in the minors, though he used a keen batting eye to counter-act his strikeouts and generate a career .274/.362/.478 slash line over 3174 PA. The problem is, Major League pitchers have feasted on those holes in Phillips’ swing, as he has struck out 133 times in his 383 plate appearances at the big league level.
Phillips’ trade history is indicative of his declining prospect stock, as he went from a headline piece of a blockbuster deal to last August’s swap that didn’t generate many headlines. Not many headlines, that is, until last night. While Phillips’ first two trades carried so much import for other teams and players involved, it wasn’t until his third time changing uniforms that Phillips himself now stands as the most important part of a trade. Phillips is still only 26, and given the Rays’ penchant for finding hidden gems, perhaps last night’s heroics will only raise the curtain on a big second act of Phillips’ Major League career.
This guy is one of the best guys around. He leaves it all out there. Hopefully he will be a late bloomer and put it together like Yaz did San Francisco.
it was a great hit, dont get me wrong, and credit to him for it. but dont go praising the move as another masterstroke by the Rays. the way he was playing he really shouldn’t have made the WS roster.
Totally agree. Can’t just start praising every move they made. The Rays should’ve lost that game if Roberts was a little better at using a bullpen. Cash mismanaged too. If he hadn’t have used all the guys on his bench, phillips would’ve been pinch hit for in a heartbeat.
At least DH been used in World Series and expanded Rosters to.
Too soon to call it anything but luck.
I came here to say the same. I mean, I hope Phillips DOES become a good player for the Rays. He seems like an incredible guy, and he’ll remember last night for the rest of his life. I loved his interview after the game and I’m happy for him.
But right now on the surface, he isn’t much more than a 4th-5th outfielder that made the roster for his defense and just happened to have an incredibly clutch hit in his only at bat during the last 3 weeks. This can’t really be considered another Rays heist unless and until he becomes an everyday player, although he’s young enough and still has the upside to do so.
But I thought he was a “hero.”. Didn’t he also save some lives or something in that inning?
Seriously Chief, I agree with you. Bothers me when we start referring to these guys as heroes because they’ve had success in a sporting competition.
There are plenty of real heroes out there who don’t get anywhere near the recognition.
They used the definition properly though…
– “the central figure in an event, period, or movement”
His base hit tied the game and it was his at-bat that ultimately won game 4 for the Rays. He was the hero of that game lol
Best laugh in baseball!
If no one makes any kind of Batman joke in regards to Lucius Fox I’m disappointed.
At the time, I commented “Hope he got the memo.”
And I appreciate the reference.
I hope the dodgers just start shoving the rays off bases too holy hell
The guy pulled a Francisco Cabrera!
Can’t believe I come in here and everyone is smashing on Phillips. Should’ve not been on the roster this, and would’ve been pinch hit for that, give this kid some love. Came up huge for a team that was dead if he didn’t. Came in cold, big pressure spot, tough reliever. Been working his whole life to get right there. Damn. Good job, kid.
Good post. Your point is well received with me.
I don’t think its so much bashing him as the article. The way it’s written you would think that the Rays made some unbelievable trade for a perennial all-star that everyone else missed
I don’t know how you get that idea when you read the second and third paragraphs especially. I think it’s an overreaction from a commenting community that prefers a cynical perspective.
Not all baseball games are won by ‘perennial all-stars’, and sometimes it’s the believable trades that bring in a key piece of a Championship puzzle. How many guys can we name who have stepped up in a huge moment, that are otherwise anonymous ? A ton. Kid worked hard his whole life, has his greatest moment, and armchair athletes feel the need to diminish it, in some way. Showed him.
Dodgers win in six, Phillips is never heard from again. Such a spoiler, I know.
Regardless of what Philips did the Dodgers win anyway. The Rays were probably never winning this series. Only delaying the inevitable. Does anyone think WS should be at a neutral site? The Dodgers playing there last few weeks gives them an advantage
How so? In the last series Atlanta fans were showing up more than dodgers fans even on home games.
He’ll have a job and play out his dream for years, maybe decades to come.
You gave many people hope with your hit and postgame interview. I’m sure his teammates, over the years, have some fond memories that were relived Sat. night. Here’s to you Brett Phillips.
I hope he celebrated with a screwdriver.
If the Rays can’t get motivated and win WS after game 4 nothing will.
Nice story. Dodgers in 7…Still.
If the Rays lose game 6, it’s on Cash! Stupid to remove Snell who was rolling