As the MLB offseason gains momentum following the general managers’ meetings, the Philadelphia Phillies face familiar questions about reinforcing an aging roster that has fallen short of championship expectations in recent years.
One speculative idea circulating among analysts involves acquiring Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews in a straight swap for young pitcher Andrew Painter, a concept floated by Sam Sallick of Federal Baseball.
Both players arrived in professional baseball carrying lofty expectations that have yet to fully materialize at the major-league level.
Painter, selected 13th overall by the Phillies in the 2021 draft, once ranked among the game’s top pitching prospects after posting a sparkling 1.56 ERA with dominant strikeout numbers in the minors.
Tommy John surgery in 2023 delayed his ascent, and his 2026 major-league debut proved rocky; he was optioned midseason after his ERA ballooned above 7.00.
Upon his return, however, Painter showed clear progress by incorporating a changeup that became a key weapon, posting a 3.65 ERA in the second half while holding opponents to a .153 average against the pitch.
That late-season improvement, combined with the organization’s long investment in him, makes any deal involving Painter a complicated proposition, especially one that would send him to a division rival.
Crews presents a different calculation. The Nationals took him second overall in the 2023 draft, right after Pittsburgh selected Paul Skenes.
Now 24, the athletic outfielder has flashed tools but struggled to translate them into consistent production.
Across 225 major-league games he has compiled a .648 OPS and just 1.5 Baseball-Reference WAR, and in 2026 he hit .223 with 13 home runs and a .663 OPS in 109 games.
Still, his defensive ability, speed, and remaining offensive upside keep him intriguing as a change-of-scenery candidate.
Multiple clubs have inquired about him, according to reporting from Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic, and the Nationals have not ruled out moving him while seeking controllable starting pitching in return.
For the Phillies, adding a high-upside outfielder with years of team control could address a clear need. Yet parting with Painter to a direct competitor would carry substantial risk if the right-hander continues developing into the frontline starter many envisioned.
The proposal remains purely hypothetical, but it highlights the delicate balance contending clubs must strike between chasing immediate upgrades and protecting young talent that has not yet realized its ceiling.
Whether Philadelphia or any other club ultimately pursues Crews will depend on how aggressively the Nationals shop him and what price they demand for a former top prospect still searching for his breakthrough.
