The Phillies have had a roller coaster season so far. Good news is they aren’t sellers at the deadline and still have World Series aspirations. Though, much like their city counterpart, the 76ers, entering this season they’ve become stagnant and need to make some changes or face the reality of some grim seasons approaching. The Sixers have made their changes this offseason. It might be time for the Phillies to do the same. The team started by firing manager Rob Thomson after a 9-19 start to their season. The offense looked lifeless at times and with the exception of Cristopher Sanchez and his historic scoreless innings streak, the pitching staff wasn’t that much better.
Interim manager Don Mattingly has been able to turn things around and perhaps that was the spark the clubhouse needed, just like in 2022, when Thomson took over for Girardi. The team has gone 48-33 with Mattingly as manager since. Lately, the Phillies are 2-8 in their last 10 and desperately need some new life in their pitching staff and lineup.
So who do they go after with the trade deadline coming up on Monday, August 3rd?
It was amazing news when LeBron James signed with the 76ers. The greatest basketball player of the 21st century chose Philadelphia? The Phillies should just be able to get anyone at the deadline. Tarik Skubal, back to back AL Cy Young award winner, the Phillies will trade the farm for you. But will their offer be stronger than the Los Angeles Dodgers? Or really any other ball club with a better farm system? And is it worth trading prospects for someone who realistically might bolt for Los Angeles in the offseason anyway?
South Jersey native Mike Trout and Minnesota Twin Byron Buxton have been linked in trade rumors, and the Phillies do need a right handed batter in the outfield, but both would also require trading real developing talent that might include the likes of Gage Wood, Francisco Renteria, Andrew Painter or Aidan Miller. With Ramon Marquez also being rumored as a likely prospect on the move, can the Phillies afford to part ways with more of their young talent? Especially for aging veterans who are often injured? Buxton and Trout are amazing players, but their age and injury history could set the team back and may not be worth the asking price from either the Twins or Los Angeles Angels.
The rumor market for the Phillies seems to pair them with the Toronto Blue Jays. Jon Morosi reported on MLB Network that the Blue Jays have several veterans that could fit their needs. Those are: George Springer, Jeff Hoffman, Dalton Varsho, Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber.
The Blue Jays veterans are solid players, but if they were to go after any of them, Kevin Gausman as a backend rotation guy would make a lot more sense than going after another struggling left handed batter like Dalton Varsho or George Springer, who’s more of a DH these days. My favorite target might be Taylor Ward. He’s 10th in the majors in OPS. He’s a solid right handed outfielder and wouldn’t cost the team top level prospects to get him from Baltimore.
The Phillies are third in the Wild Card and second in the NL East. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwaber and Brandon Marsh won’t remain cold forever, we can only hope. Their rotation with Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and Zack Wheeler has been solid but needs some strengthening in the backend. Whatever it is the Phillies do, they can’t stay complacent if they want to compete for a championship this season, especially with the looming lockout for the 2027 season and an aging ballclub.
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