Phillies trade for Cristian Pache, former Braves major prospect

The Phillies created an exciting trade on the eve of opening day, acquiring proper-handed-hitting center fielder Cristian Pache from the Oakland Athletics for minor-league reliever Billy Sullivan.

Pache is a 24 year-old with properly-above-typical defensive capacity. He came up with the Braves and was regarded as a single of the major prospects in all of baseball getting into the 2021 season. He appeared in only 24 standard-season games with the Braves but did play the whole 2020 NLCS against the Dodgers. He was a single of the major pieces traded from Atlanta to Oakland final March for initial baseman Matt Olson.

Final season with the A’s, Pache tied for fifth amongst AL center fielders in defensive runs saved.

Pache was added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster. Rhys Hoskins, who undergoes surgery on his torn ACL Thursday, was placed on the 60-day injured list to make space.

Pache is out of minor-league selections and will be on the Phillies’ opening day roster as the proper-handed hitting centerfielder. Brandon Marsh hits from the left side and will begin the majority of games. The Phillies wanted one more proper-handed bat on the bench capable of playing center. Dalton Guthrie was a single solution to make the group. Pache gives far more upside.

Edmundo Sosa (RH) has also played some center in camp, and left-handed-hitting Jake Cave, who raked all spring, also plays the position.

In 332 profession plate appearances, Pache has hit just .156/.205/.234 with eight doubles, two triples, 4 homers and one more in the postseason. He’s hit .278/.328/.404 in six minor-league seasons. His very best year was 2019 split among Double A and Triple A in the Braves’ farm method.

The most likely 13 position players on the Phillies’ opening day roster are:

C J.T. Realmuto
1B Darick Hall
2B Bryson Stott
3B Alec Bohm
SS Trea Turner
LF Kyle Schwarber
CF Brandon Marsh
RF Nick Castellanos
C Garrett Stubbs
Utility Edmundo Sosa
Utility Josh Harrison
CF Cristian Pache
OF Jake Cave