Phillies Swing Trade With A's For Former Top Prospect

The Philadelphia Phillies have added some outfield depth, trading for an elite center fielder who was once a top prospect for the Atlanta Braves. 

The Phillies have traded for Cristian Pache, a right-handed hitting CF who was once a top prospect with the Braves. Billy Sullivan, a righty relief prospect, goes to Oakland. Pache is out of options, so he’ll be on the roster to begin the season. Rhys Hoskins to 60-day.

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) March 29, 2023

The Oakland A's send Cristian Pache to the Phils in exchange for reliever Billy Sullivan. 

Pache hasn't been able to hit major league pitching in his brief trials as yet, but he can play defense with the best of them. He'll make the Phillies' major league roster, as the 24-year-old is out of options. The Phils placed Rhys Hoskins on the 60-day IL to make room on the roster. 

The Atlanta Braves originally signed Pache out of the Dominican Republic in 2016, and he rose through their system as a highly-regarded center field prospect—in fact, one of the top prospects in the sport. 

But he's only been able to muster up a .156 average in 308 major league at-bats, with an equally anemic .439 OPS. 

He'll try to catch on in Philly, who are in need of a little defensive depth in the outfield, what with Kyle Schwarber and sometimes Nick Castellanos patrolling the corners. 

Photo: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports