When it comes to making bold moves at the trade deadline, the Phillies have never been ones to sit on their hands. From landing Cliff Lee in 2009 to acquiring Jean Segura in 2018, the front office has shown consistent willingness to part with top prospects in pursuit of immediate success. And that win-now mentality has become a hallmark of the franchise, especially during seasons where the postseason feels within reach.
Even this year, the Phillies find themselves locked in a tight race atop the NL East, toe-to-toe with the Mets. And with October dream looming large, the urgency to bolster the roster is once again front and center. If recent words from league insiders are any indication, Philadelphia boss Dave Dombrowski is gearing up for another aggressive midseason push, one that could significantly reshape their playoff trajectory.
Clearly, a long battle lies ahead for the Phillies, and to win it, reinforcements are needed. And, it comes through the midseason trade. In the most recent episode of The Baseball Insiders: A Fansided MLB Podcast, insider Robert Murray predicted that Dave Dombrowski, Phillies’ President of Baseball Operations, will go for relievers and batters at the trade deadline.
Image Credits: MLB.com
“It’s going to be bullpen heavy and a bat is definitely possible there in Philadelphia… The Phillies have definitely shown a willingness to go out and get players who are on like controllable contracts, and that would mean probably parting with one of their better prospects….” Murray said.
Continuing further, he added, “Like obviously, the Phillies ended up getting David Robertson in free agency, which was a nice little move for them. I’m curious to see how impactful he can be, considering he signed mid-season and hasn’t had any live game action. But definitely bullpen and bat in Philly, and this is, I expect Dave Dombrowski to be aggressive at this deadline.“
Well, since June 1, the Phillies’ bullpen has thrown the fewest innings of any team in the National League, just 134. But despite the lighter workload, they’ve given up 19 home runs, tying them for the seventh-most in the league over that stretch. Now, that is why it’s key for the Phillies to find relievers who can keep the ball in the park at the crucial junctures of the game.
Another area where the Phillies are lacking is the SO rate. Since June 1, their relievers have struck out just 20% of the batters they’ve faced, ranking 13th in the NL. It’s one of the biggest holes in an otherwise solid group. And that sums up why Dombrowski should be aggressive for the relievers by the trade deadline.
The Phillies are in a complex trading game
While Painter is widely seen as off-limits, it’s expected that at least one or two from the group will be on the move. The Phillies can’t afford to stay mum without landing a few new arms, as things haven’t exactly gone as planned, despite all the preseason hype. A few key additions just haven’t lived up to expectations.
For instance, Jordan Romano is sitting with a 6.88 ERA, and Joe Ross has a 5.28 ERA. On top of that, Alec Bohm’s fractured rib only adds to the woes. So, external help is the need of the hour.
Amid all the noise, the top name that the Phillies are linked with is Felix Bautista from the Orioles. Bautista missed all of 2024 with an injury, but he has bounced back this season in a big way. Currently, he has a 2.60 ERA with 19 saves over 35 appearances. But he’s under the Orioles’ control through 2027, which makes his trade value sky-high.
To land him, the Phillies will almost certainly have to part with some of their top prospects. It’s treacherous water to sail yes, but it might be a gamble worth taking for the Phillies.
The post Phillies Eye High-Impact Moves as Dave Dombrowski Readies Aggressive Trade Deadline Push: Report appeared first on EssentiallySports.
