Playing GM for the Phillies: Three MLB trade deadline moves for Philadelphia team clinging to NL East lead

Is there a more obvious buyer in baseball than Philadelphia Phillies? A handful of other teams may well be at the same level, but no one is more strongly in the buyer category.

Consider that the phillies did the World Series in 2022, the NLC in 2023 and the NLDs in 2024. Continue to take small steps back should not be acceptable.

Also consider that the discord window with this strong kernel may not be opened much longer. In fact, it could be a last hayling. The MVP of the Kyle Schwarber stars game is a free agent after this season. The same goes for JT Realmuto and Ranger Suárez. Age could also catch up early enough, because Bryce Harper and Trea Turner are every two of them. Aaron Nola, who had been horrible this season before his injury problems. Zack Wheeler is 35 years old. Nick Castellanos is 33 years old. It is usually an old team.

However, it is also a team really capable of winning the World Series. They are currently seated in first place in the NL East (-1320 to make the playoffs, by Caesars), although this race rushes towards the wire with the dishes. So, again, the phillies are strong buyers and should do everything possible to win the title this season.

One thing that hangs over the head at the moment is that the left-handed lift José Alvarado is not eligible for the playoffs because of its PED suspension earlier this year.

Now, three movements that phillies should make:

1. Trade for Lifter (s) twins

It seems that twins end in the sellers category and they correspond well to the phillies here. Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax are under the control of the team for two more seasons and are really cheap, which means that twins will ask a lot in return, but the phillies must go big. I am not sure that they could conclude an agreement for both, which would be a total coup, but grabbing one of the two here would be an excellent decision for the phils.

2. Add a bat to the outer field

Phillies do not need to be in despair mode here or anything, because it is completely plausible that Castellanos, Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler are good players the rest of the season. However, they should not leave anything to chance this year and these three players, at present, have a negative war. This means that they should be able to find an upgrade somewhere on the market.

Byron BUSTON is an easy option. It would be the best addition of commercial delay in the majors if the phillies landed them in a way. Of course, each panel indicates that it is a pipe dream. Buxton himself did everything possible to indicate with force that he would refuse any job (he has a complete non-exchange clause) because he is a “twin for life”. Yes, I am aware that players sometimes say that and change their mind, but for the moment, we will take it in the word.

Looking at another star, what about Ryan O’Hearn des Orioles? Phillies and Orioles have teamed up with Austin Hays, so why not return to the well?

What about the White Sox central field player, Luis Robert Jr. Robert has problems on the ground and was bad when he stayed outside the IL in the last two seasons, but his upward advantage is an MVP caliber player and he was exceptional in 2023 at the age of 25. It is worth reducing club options for 2026 and 2027 on his contract, which means that the phillies could cut the bait if it does not work but keep it for two seasons for two seasons if not.

3. Pick up more relief depth

The simple fact of grasping the only lifter of the twins is not enough. Of course, phillies can use their overabundance of beginners in relief in the playoffs, but the addition of two lifts at the end of the round should be the goal. Hunter Harvey, of the Royals, began an rehabilitation assignment after having undergone a major strain on the right in mid-April and could be a candidate. Guardians could watch a sale and someone from them would work well, like Hunter Gaddis or Cade Smith. The big name there is Emmanuel Clase.

Could Phillies succeed something like Robert, Duran and Clase in the same deadline? It would be a masterclass.