Phillies
Report: Phillies Among Teams Interested in 1B Justin Smoak
Published30 Jul 2019
By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly interested in acquiring long-time Toronto Blue Jays 1B/DH Justin Smoak.
According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the market for Smoak is “starting to smoke,” with the Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, Phillies, and “one or two other teams” eyeing the 10-year veteran.
Smoak, 32, is slashing just .215/.357/.427 this season, albeit slugging 18 home runs and 46 RBI over 86 games and 359 plate appearances. Overall, since debuting with the Texas Rangers in 2010, the switch-hitter has slugged 187 home runs and 540 RBI.
Justin Smoak homers (18) on a fly ball to left center off Yonny Chirinos
Exit Velocity 103 MPH
Distance 397 FT
Launch Angle 24.92#RaysUp vs #LetsGoBlueJays pic.twitter.com/MZfHN8Hfv8— Strand Sport Stats (@StrandStats) July 28, 2019
In 2017, Smoak recorded the most putouts in the American League (1,244), and in 2018 recorded the best fielding percentage among AL first basemen (.999). The 2017 AL All-Star is also is the active leader in the latter category (.996).
Smoak will “likely move,” per Heyman. Whether it’s the Phillies who acquire the Goose Creek, South Carolina, native is yet to be seen, however. You have to wonder, could the Phillies be considering moving Rhys Hoskins back to left field if they acquire Smoak?
The July 31 trade deadline is less than 24 hours away.
