2018 Trade Deadline rumors/speculation

[Squire]

I hope we trade for a guy who can teach Kingery, Alfaro and Crawford how to hit. That's our biggest need.

[David_Criss]

I like the idea of adding McCutchen. Don't think he would cost to much. Chris Archer would cost a mint. And if the Phillies were one pitcher away from winning the WS, then that is worth it, but not at this point. Its not like a Michael Bourn and Costanza for Brad Lidge

[allentown]

Or we could just hire an assistant hitting coach to do that.

[Lawman]

No surprise, but Nats' GM Mike Rizzo said that Harper is staying. I gotta think that Phils' 4 game losing streak has them convinced - and rightly so - that they are in this race to the end.

Losing to Boston is expected. Losing 3/4 to the Reds is a bigger issue.

[phillychuck]

Of course, that is assuming that it is possible to teach players to substantially increase a skill they've been working on since they were 6...

I'm not sure that's easy...

[Florida_Sunshine]

Totally 100% agree.

[EDmuch]

Let's say we add McCutcheon. What would the bench look like? Cabrera, McCutcheon, Crawford and Knapp? Quinn sent back down until September ?

[andyb]

Could be - unless they want to give Kingery some AAA time. I assume Crawford takes Plouffe's spot. No room for Quinn really with McCutchen (and no OF playing time anyway).

[saycheese]

If they add McCutcheon I would think he is going to start in RF which is a mistake. I would roll with what we have the outfield right now. Quinn as the 4th outfielder is just fine, Altherr is all be it a small sample size looks like he may be figuring it out in AAA. I just don't think adding another average player helps the team and McCutcheon is going to cost a little bit to get.

Getting a lefthanded reliever like Diekman does make sense, other than that sail with what we have

[jimbomill]

I agree - don't need Larry Could use Diekman

[EDmuch]

Get one of the Miami relievers. After watching the ease with which Garcia blew it up last nite, I think we need more help in the pen. I woudl put adding to the pen ahead of McCutcheon in terms of priorities.

[Austinfan]

Is Diekman as good as Davis at this point? At least Davis can throw strikes.
He's better than Morgan, but what do you give up to add to the back of your bullpen?

[andyb]

Is Diekman as good as Davis at this point? At least Davis can throw strikes.
He's better than Morgan, but what do you give up to add to the back of your bullpen?

He is probably better. More velocity. More track record. Reality that Davis is a small sample size.

Plus the other reality is that you have both of them (and Morgan) if you make the deal and getting left-handed hitters out will be an important task going forward.

We kind of get that you don't want to trade anything. Right now this is a team with major holes and plugging some of them when they are in first place tenuously might not be the worst thing to do.

[zambonir]

Murphy's theory today is the the Phillies apparent aggressive interest in so many OFs could also be a sign that they'd be willing to include Williams in a package for Archer. But that is probably far-fetched.

He does however, argue that in his experience, when a team comes up in the rumor mills this many times, while any specific rumor might be untrue or insubstantial, the fact that they want an OF is probably correct. We've heard more OF rumors than bullpen rumors, even.

If they get a RH veteran OF he just has to be able to live with being the short end of the platoon with Williams.

Final Phillies trade deadline thoughts: A big fish? An outfielder? | David...

[zambonir]

Meanwhile

Jeff Passan (JeffPassan)

[fish]

Well, that's interesting. I loves me some Wilson Ramos. How much do they have to give for a rental on the dl?

[gmwannabe]

That's the part i'm afraid of. Ramos was dandy for the Nats but if it's for the 2 outfielders (pujols and stephens) and a pitcher (seabold) i'm definately out for a rental.
gm

[Austinfan]

Wilson Ramos

Ramos doesn't seem to fit their mold of a hitter.
I think Klentak may be talking to a lot of people, but is he just kicking tires?

I'm willing to trade, just not players I see as potential starters or SPs down the road.
It's not like anyone they trade for will make a significant difference.

[zambonir]

An injured rental's not gonna cost that much. It's a pretty clever move if it works,even if he's just the back-up that upgrades both sides of the team for 50% of the remaining games in a way a bench OF would not.

[andyb]

Not sure where it says Pujols and Stephen and Seabold but those do seem like the type of risky (Pujols) or lower ceiling prospects (Stephen and Seabold) we should look to trade if they have value.

Assume we could include Knapp in a Ramos trade pretty easily as well though there is more of a cost to that since Knapp does have options.

Ramos would be an interesting move. They are still papering over a lack of left-handed relief and defense in general though since Alfaro is a net average on defense (great at throwing, average on framing, lousy at blocking).

These maneuvers make me think the biggest improvement that could potentially come on the non-pitching side would be Crawford winning the SS job back. Seeing a 700+ OPS and good defense from Crawford would make everybody better. Not sure he can do that, but Kingery probably cannot. The Athletic had an aside that Crawford has some sort of shoulder injury early in the season that led to throwing errors and the hope is that is now OK along with the broken arm.