Phillies Get 2017 All-Star Corey Dickerson In Trade Deadline Deal

The Phillies have reportedly made a notable move with just an hour remaining before the trade deadline, landing outfielder Corey Dickerson in a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The move, first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, brings the Phillies a talented bat that they can deploy as either a starter or off the bench. The Phillies have confirmed the move.

In exchange for the 30-year-old, the Phillies are sending international bonus pool money (money designated to sign foreign players) and a player to be named later.

Dickerson is just two seasons removed from an All Star campaign in 2017 with the Tampa Bay Rays. He's spent a chunk of this season on the injured list, but in limited action, has turned in strong offensive numbers, batting .317 with a .931 OPS.

Defensively, Dickerson is something of an enigma. Since 2013 he's been relegated almost entirely to left field, though he does have some limited experience in center and right. He graded out as an average or slightly above average defender for most of his career until 2018, when he turned in a stellar Gold Glove campaign in left field, with a .996 fielding percentage and 17 total fielding runs above average.

While not a blockbuster move, it bolsters the team's depth, something that will surely be tested as they attempt to scrape their way into a Wild Card spot over the season's final two months. As of Wednesday, the Phillies sat in a tie with the Chicago Cubs for the second Wild Card spot, half a game behind the Washington Nationals and a game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Dickerson gives the Phillies versatility all over the diamond thanks to Scott Kingery, who can play just about anywhere. Dickerson can play in left, with Adam Haseley in center, while Kingery takes over third or second from Maikel Franco or Cesar Hernandez. This is the kind of hopping around the Phillies expected Kingery to do when the season began, and they had two other All-Star outfielders on the roster: Andrew McCutchen, since lost to injury for the rest of the season, and Odubel Herrera, suspended for the remainder of the season for a domestic violence incident.

The Dickerson trade is the latest in a series of low cost moves the general manager Matt Klentak has made over the past month in an attempt to shore up the team's weaknesses. Most notably, free agent pitcher Drew Smyly was signed after being released earlier in the year, and he's been stellar in two starts. The Phillies also traded with the Mets for starting pitcher Jason Vargas, moves which have bumped Nick Pivetta and now Zach Eflin to the bullpen. Other signings include relievers Blake Parker and Mike Morin, and infielder Jose Pirela.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Phillies have designated injured outfielder Dylan Cozens for assignment.

The MLB trade deadline is 4 p.m. Wednesday.