2023 Phillies/MLB Trade Deadline Speculation/Discussion

[Austinfan]

Marsh is fine, he's adequate defensively and seems to have rediscovered his mojo, OPS still around .800 and his defense is slightly positive. If he got pushed to left field, he'd probably be at least plus defensively, and .800 OPS would be close to 3-4 WAR.

They need to get Harper on the field so they can bring up Cave and put Schwarber at DH permanently - his defense is so bad it completely negates his offense (FG has him at -0.2 WAR).

[bkeich]

Yea, the problem is that Castellanos is just as bad defensively (not this year, but over the last few seasons). We need to get both guys out of the OF, but that can only happen when Harper can go back to RF. Castellanos needs to be moved this off-season.

[bkox]

Castellanos needs to be moved this off-season.

there is no way they trade him this offseason. Hes leading the team in WAR (BBREF WAR) and hes in the top 10 in MLB in BA, Hits and doubles and top 30 in OBP, SLG and OPS.

Among RFers hes in top 5 in most categories

Honestly Schwarber should be the one to go if one has to go. Even with Schwarb's 20 HRs and top 3 in MLB walks, his Offensive WAR is way lower than Casty's (9.2 vs 1.4 on fangraphs. 2.2 vs 0.8 on BBref)

[phillychuck]

The number you took from Fangraphs is offensive RUNS above average. Casty's fangraphs WAR is 1.3.

[Sabin]

Nah, I get it, just ribbing you a bit.

You're right of course that Franco is better straight-up comparison. I used Asche as a juxtaposition against 2020 Bohm - the other end of the spectrum of what he is not shaping up to be.

Like Andy, I see Candalario as a short term fix. They could try resigning him if they did trade for him, but again, he's 30 in November. So another shift older for the team with no real 3B prospects in the pipeline.

[Sabin]

Yeah, but I like the 9.2 WAR better.

[bkox]

Whatever it is.. shows Casty is better than Schwarbs. Not sure where this team would be without him this year.

[bkeich]

I agree that Schwarber would be better, but he is probably untradeable. My reasoning is that Castellanos would at least have offers in a trade.

[zambonir]

I don't think either of them are untradeable, just means including $. But I wouldn't make the decision based on just the one season. i.e. Castellanos hasn't been good 2 of the last 4 seasons (one of which was 2020). Schwarber only 1 of them (also 2020)... because I'm not prepared to say he's going to end up being actually bad this season. Castellanos is also one year older.

Schwarber is what he is and I'd sooner keep the LH DH who can hit 35 HRs for another two seasons (or at least one of the two) and get out from under Castellanos's longer deal before he either flat-out declines or just has another bad one-off season.

But it really depends on so many other things. You probably can't get rid of both Bohm and Castellanos. But neither of them provide enough RH power. And I'm not sure you want Castellanos to be a full-time DH for that reason (but you also don't really want him in the field, even if it's LF).

Maybe they should just move Nick back to 3B

[zambonir]

And now I'm really confused, is this a trade deadline thread or a hot stove thread? (myself included).

I feel like the Phillies' actions speak louder than words here as far as Hall or Cave being some kind of missing piece that keeps them from making a deadline deal. Hall isn't going anywhere (and can be optioned) it seems like the plan is to let him play 1B for 2-3 weeks, at which point he loses the job to Harper anyway until Harper can return to RF. If Hall struggles it is all moot; if he's bopping they can just leave Schwarber in LF longer. But still no real way to get Cave in the mix. I guess those actions will speak louder than words eventually too - if Cave is still in the organization on August 1 and they haven't acquired an OF, he gets his shot then.

[Sabin]

Well, Candalario is being rumored as a potential deadline target of the Phillies, one that seems plausible given their current needs and standing. The natural question that would follow is what they plan to do with Bohm - not only rest of season, but future with the team as well - though I think it unlikely they deal him yet.

Normally deadline deals are a little more straight forward in terms of the needs they address, but given some of the age and positional factors in play for the club right now, things are a little more complex.

[zambonir]

Has Candalario actually been rumored or was there just one article/listicle by one writer (albeit on MLB's official website)?

They don't have to give up on Bohm this year if they do it though. They'd be great as a platoon and Bohm would also be fine at 1B only facing lefties (especially if Harper returns to the OF and he's platooning with Hall or Clemens).

Still seems more likely they address 1B or LF directly, but rule out nothing! Rumor season hasn't even truly begun.

[bkox]

Found our 5th starter...

Industry sources suggest to @AnthonyDiComo that Max Scherzer could be willing to waive his no-trade clause if #Mets continue to struggle https://t.co/WpCW17N5eh pic.twitter.com/UBbKjAAqSd

— MLB Trade Rumors ( @mlbtraderumors ) June 28, 2023

[zambonir]

I really can't wait for that press conference.

[schillingfan]

I think at least two teams won the World Series the year after they fired Buck Showalter. I know the D-Backs did. So I’m hoping the Mets don’t fire him, though the manager is always the first to go.

[ER222]

The Yankees won in 1996 after firing him.

[Sabin]

Has Candalario actually been rumored or was there just one article/listicle by one writer (albeit on MLB's official website)?

Well, if you want to submit terms under which you consider a rumor 'official', feel free and we can take a look at it as a community. Meanwhile, I've run across it on the site you mention, and heard a blurb over a Sirius XM channel recently, but as their tone implied, it's all scuttlebutt right now.

Do you think that makes it a taboo topic to discuss here?

[bkox]

Well, if you want to submit terms under which you consider a rumor 'official', feel free and we can take a look at it as a community.

I think he was just trying to see what the strength of the rumor was... one source versus multiple.

[Sabin]

Yes, but I don't know that any rumors are particularly 'strong' right now.

[Aquapong]

I think the expanded playoffs will make teams less likely to trade for pure rentals. As we saw last year, two teams that squeaked into the playoffs made the LCS and one of them the WS. Are GM’s going to send their best prospects to gain a slightly higher percentage of winning it all? I think we’ll continue to see teams try to improve bullpens and bench/platoon players. Any real trades will involve 4/5 starters to try to get to expanded playoffs or players with longer term control.