"Can't be that guy unless you're Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper" - Phillies insider points out Brandon Marsh's biggest flaw in 2024

While Philadelphia Phillies slugger Brandon Marsh had a good regular season, he struggled mightily in the postseason. He batted .077 through four games, dragging down the lineup.

Now, the club has to decide if they want to keep the slugger around. He is arbitration eligible, alongside players like Ranger Suarez, Alec Bohm, and Bryson Stott.

The crew over at Locked On Phillies breaks down Marsh's value to the team. In it, they make some strong points on why he may be on the move this winter, like his strikeout problem.

"He struck out so much more than what [Bryson] Stott put together which is why the average is below .250," said Connor Thomas.

Marsh ended the regular season with 154 strikeouts. He was just four away from tying a career-high, and it really hurt his productivity at the plate.

"The batting average went from .277 to .249. Well, why is that? Because he struck out 10 more times and he had already struck out 144 times in 2023," said Thomas.

That is not the type of season you want to have when you are coming up on an arbitration year. That is a ton of strikeouts for somebody who has yet to hit 17 home runs in a single season.

"He was a strikeout machine down the stretch and you can't be that guy. Unless you're a Kyle Schwarber, unless you're Bryce Harper-type power hitter, you can't be a 150 strikeout guy at the major league level," said Thomas.

Can Brandon Marsh's glove be the reason the Phillies keep him around?

Philadelphia Phillies - Brandon Marsh (Photo via IMAGN)

One positive note on Brandon Marsh's game this season came defensively. He was a gem in the outfield, posting a .978 fielding percentage. He also ranked second in the National League with his seven defensive runs saved.

Marsh only made five errors in the outfield this season, making him more than dependable. However, with the attractive free-agent outfielders that are available, that may not be enough.

You cannot talk free agent outfielders without mentioning Juan Soto, and the Phillies could be one of the many teams ringing his line. There are also players like Cody Bellinger and Teoscar Hernandez on the open market.

The front office certainly has some decisions to make over the next few months. Will they bring Marsh back or are they more comfortable moving on from the sparkplug outfielder?