2023 Phillies/MLB Trade Deadline Speculation/Discussion

[zambonir]

I mean which one is going to lose in the wild card round and which one is going to actually succeed. Or rather, which the Rangers might do

[bkox]

We have traded INF Nicky Lopez to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for LHP Taylor Hearn.

Hearn, a 40-man roster player, has been optioned to Omaha (AAA).

— Kansas City Royals ( @Royals ) July 30, 2023

[zambonir]

Dodgers Rumors: LA Showing Interest In Right-Handed Hitting Mets Outfielders

[zambonir]

Since this was the guy I started this thread with... Clearly just as well the Phillies aren't one of them (presumably)!

Rizzo: Nationals Have Eight Suitors For Jeimer Candelario

This also notes that if the Nats were to trade Thomas they wouldn't necessarily want outfield prospects.

[bkox]

The Braves are working to add a starting pitcher, with less than 48 hours before the deadline.

They’ve checked with the Mets regarding Justin Verlander but are not currently engaged in negotiations on JV. @MLB @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi ( @jonmorosi ) July 31, 2023

Trade storyline to watch:

The Braves and Tigers made a deal last offseason and the organizations still match up well.

Atlanta wants to add a starter. The Tigers have Lorenzen and Rodríguez available. @MLBNetwork @MLB

— Jon Morosi ( @jonmorosi ) July 31, 2023

[Callison]

Picked it up from SI - so they "fell for it" too. If Harper can't play OF, it's not even attractive anymore.

The stuff about Hoskins coming back for the playoffs - get your money down on that.

[bkox]

BREAKING: The Angels are acquiring OF Randal Grichuk and 1B C.J. Cron from the Rockies, per source. Colorado gets back RHP Jake Madden and LHP Mason Albright.

— Mark Feinsand ( @Feinsand ) July 31, 2023

. #8 and #28 on the Angels prospect list

[zambonir]

Man. Angels seem to really be putting their all their hope not just on getting in but getting in and making Ohtani want to say.

[zambonir]

It was a bad weekend at a time when the front office is deciding how much to add ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline. The Phillies are buying — there is a lack of “impact” talent available, but there are upgrades to make — and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is expected to acquire a hitter and a pitcher in the next 36 hours.

The Phillies have signaled to other teams they are content to wait until prices drop because, although there might be players they like more than others, they are not desperate. They are not going to win the National League East, but they remain in fine shape for securing a wild-card berth — even the NL’s No. 4 seed, which would guarantee at least three postseason games at Citizens Bank Park.

Phillies' ugly weekend raises concerns as club debates what it needs at trade...

[VoteForKalas]

It was a bad weekend at a time when the front office is deciding how much to add ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.

I'm sure DD and Co. have already made their decisions on what they would like to add and/or subtract by the deadline. I doubt one weekend of play is going to sway them one way or the other.

I still think they need a depth starter who could flip to the pen if needed and obviously the corner OF who could put Schwarber at DH. Should they be desperate? Unfortunately, I do not think so. I think this roster is flawed enough that investing more may be a mistake. I'd let it ride this season, get the WC and do the best you can. Then I would make some more significant changes in the off-season.

[zambonir]

Well of course it doesn't change anything. The Phillies aren't even playing as poorly as some more aggressive teams (like Texas and Tampa, though they have better records and more to play for).

But I think this Murphy column highlights the quandary the series exposed. The hitters have to hit. The defensive and running miscues have to stop.The question he raises here is, can they count on the rotation after Wheeler (particularly Nola but Suarez and Walker have both had their bumps) and will the deep and elite bullpen still actually be that way come October, given two of the top guys have health issues and the healthy guy is being overused? Last year's team had just as many issues at the plate and in the field. But they had two aces and two great relievers.

But, a starter who's actually a legit #4 candidate (rather than just a depth upgrade/Sanchez insurance) or higher-end relief arm both probably too expensive for this team. And adding a reliever just to add a reliever not necessary if he isn't better than what's already on the 40.

Phillies trade deadline: Pitching is a need, not a reality after Max...

I like how Murphy points out the Rangers just traded for a guy who isn't any better than Nola, given his current season and age.

[Docs]

I know it will never happen, but could the phillies unload one of their aging OFs? Or do they have NTCs?

[Austinfan]

There is no one they can add who'd make a significant difference.
The only way this team is going to go on a roll is if Harper, Turner and Castellanos significantly raise their game.

Bohm has stepped up since June, Stott might be their best position player, Marsh has been solid, Rojas is at least fun and Pache deserves a long look - it's the high priced veterans who have left this team down.

And Sanchez is looking more and more like the real deal, maybe not a top 3 starter, but certainly well above average for a #5. If Wheeler and Nola can regain their form, the SP is just fine. Need SD and Alvarado for the stretch run.

[zambonir]

I don't think either of them have NTCs but there's just no way to do that at the trade deadline unless it was for someone else's even more problematic/overpaid player.

I also don't think they can do without either of them tbh. Schwarber is still one of the team's biggest run-producers with his power and OBP (and is no longer actually an OF) and Nick was their best hitter in the first half. If they go get Pham and put him in RF instead of Nick I still don't think you get enough from Marsh/Cave/Pache/Rojas from the the other corner even with the improved defense. They have to go get a guy to add/upgrade from Cave/Harrison (and make up for the loss of Hoskins), not open up another hole.

In the off-season, different story, though if neither of them finish this year strong the Phillies will have to pay down the contracts and possibly get little to nothing in return (without sweetening the deal further).

If Wheeler and Nola can regain their form

Wheeler's already regained his form, if he keeps it up/gets any better he's going to be a CY finalist. He already has a lower FIP for the whole season than he did last year.

[VoteForKalas]

I know it will never happen, but could the phillies unload one of their aging OFs?

This is one aspect of the more significant changes for the offseason IMO. I do think the too many DH and not enough corner OF linked issues do need to be addressed.

I think CF is fine with Marsh & Pache with depth coming from the farm. Corner OF? Not great which is why they signed Schwarber & Castellanos even though they already had Harper.

Injuries have definitely played a role in making the situation worse, but it also opened up the 1B and RF doors for Harper & Castellanos respectively. Schwarber in LF is really the major problem. None of Cave or Hall or Sosa or Harrison or Pache are sufficient to put in LF and be ok offensively.

Not the best time to address that at the deadline, but it needs to be worked out.

[zambonir]

Still pretty sure we'll have a new LF in 30 hours, question is will Cave or Muzziotti (if he isn't traded) get a look (or continue to, in Cave's case) as the LHB option? Will they keep Harrison if not?

Something will certainly have to change between LF, RF and 1B next year. It's also still not ideal to have a full-time DH if that's what Schwarber is. Because - at least as things currently stand - it would still be nice to use Harper and Nick and Bohm there on occasion and JT probably needs to accept catching less next year too.

Also probably time to move on from Sosa, IMO. Maybe even tomorrow, if some other team is hot for a SS or middle IF help. Turner never sits (despite his struggles), Stott rarely will (despite yesterday) and Sosa doesn't offer enough of an upgrade over Bohm (and they need someone who hits RHP better there). Is there a LH bench bat out who can play 3B and LF (besides Kody Clemens). Otherwise a pure utility player probably isn't that hard to come by (i.e. Ronald Torreyes type guys).

[BostonRoss]

Not sure why you're down on Sosa. He actually has the best HR rate on the team, other than Schwarber! His problem is that he plays too much, but if the Phils acquire a hitter, that will change. I don't think a Torreyes type would be any better. (There's probably a reason no one has picked up Torreyes in the last year and a half.)

[zambonir]

I'm not really down on Sosa for the right role, just not sure the right role exists for him here. And he's 0.1 WAR in 73 games this year whereas he was 0.8 WAR in just 25 last year (and 1.4 in 78 between his two teams).

At 3B he and Bohm are both RHBs and, at least this season, Sosa's defensive upgrade is not as dramatic as it should be (at least not when he hits the way he does). At SS he and Turner are both RHBs though Sosa probably wouldn't be much of a downgrade lately. And Stott doesn't really need to be sat against LHP that often.

Thus, a negligible/scrub utility IF wouldn't make the team that much worse if packaging Sosa in a trade made the team better. (I don't really mean Torreyes specifically, but someone younger). Of course I don't really expect that to happen at the deadline.

And I don't really think acquiring a RH OF is going to affect his playing time (i.e. Harper would start to play 1B every day regardless, and therefore Bohm would play 3B almost every day).

At this point I think Clemens could probably match Sosa's production, he put up 0 WAR and hit 4 HRs in half as many ABs and would hit RHP. Technically he can also play SS (but so can Stott) if they needed one.

[fish]

Sosa still seems to be a gifted shortstop, it’s just surprising those skills haven’t translated to 3rd. I like him but I don’t know what to do with him.

[allentown]

Move Turner off SS, where he isn't fielding well.