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Phillies add Luis Arraez's patient bat to the lineup

San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez (1) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Phillies add Luis Arraez's patient bat to the lineup

By Zachary Cariola | Last updated Aug 3, 2026 11:15 AM ET

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The Philadelphia Phillies had been relatively quiet ahead of the Aug. 3 (6 p.m. EST) trade deadline, but that all changed Monday morning.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Phillies are acquiring second baseman Luis Arraez and right-hander Caleb Kilian from the San Francisco Giants. The Giants will receive right-handers Ramon Marquez (the Phillies' No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline) and Marty Gair.

Arraez, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, was one of the more coveted bats on the trade block for his hitting skills and ability to get on base.

As for Kilian, the 29-year-old will add another right-handed reliever to a Phillies bullpen that has struggled -- the Phillies bullpen has a 4.40 ERA in 393.0 innings this season (24th in MLB). In 45 games out of the Giants bullpen, Kilian has a 3-6 record and a 4.26 ERA.

The Phillies get an elite bat-to-ball hitter in Luis Arraez

The Phillies and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski swung big in adding Arraez. The three-time batting champion (2022-24) will help deepen the Phillies' lineup.

With a .324 batting average in 420 at-bats, Arraez is just six points behind Houston's Yordan Alvarez for the MLB lead. His .360 on-base percentage will immediately boost a Phillies lineup that has struggled to get on base consistently (at .304, Philadelphia's OBP is the second-worst in baseball).

Arraez walks (25) more than he strikes out (21). His bat-to-ball skills could give interim manager Don Mattingly plenty of flexibility in setting the lineup.

According to reporting from MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, the Phillies may move Bryce Harper back to fight field to allow for Arraez to play second base. Bryson Stott would slide over to third base in that scenario, with Alec Bohm moving to first base.

Bryce Harper brought his outfielder's glove on the last road trip, saying he was ready to move to the outfield, if needed.

He's expected to move to the outfield to make room for Luis Arraez in the infield. Alec Bohm to first base, Bryson Stott to third base.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) August 3, 2026

What the Phillies gave up to acquire Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian

Marquez has shown promise in his appearances with Low-A Clearwater and High-A Jersey Shore this season. In six games (five starts) with the Threshers, the 20-year-old posted a 3-0 record with a 1.86 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP, while going 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP in six starts.

With an elite changeup -- Marquez received a 60/80 grade for the pitch -- he could turn into an effective backend starter.

"The 6-foot-2 Marquez does have some projection remaining, and there could be more velocity to come as he fills out his frame. Marquez is athletic on the mound, and despite some excessive head movement, repeats his delivery well and fills up the zone. If he can find a breaking ball to trust and show he can handle the workload, he has the chance to be a back-end starter in the future," per MLB Pipeline's scouting report.

As for Gair, he struggled in his 28 appearances in relief with the Threshers, going 2-3 with a 4.91 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Gair was recently assigned to High-A Jersey Shore and has not allowed a run in three innings since joining the team.

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my family and learning history.

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