2023 Phillies/MLB Trade Deadline Speculation/Discussion

[zambonir]

I've always liked that idea but Alec Bohm isn't part of that plan (for me at least). And Sosa wouldn't have to be either (i.e. move Stott to SS and upgrade at 2B via a modest free agent or in trade).

But that is certainly not happening this year. Nor is Turner going to play less.

Still can't really see Bohm moving to 1B (next year) either. I love him as a platoon player though. As impressive as his BA and RBIs have been this year the reality is still that he's a Sosa-like hitter against RHPs (.684 OPS, 90 OPS+, Sosa is .686 96) and a stud against LHPs (.956, 148). But those are only 26% of his PAs.

Not hard to see why Sosa keeps playing 3B though. He's made errors but he is still a better 3B than Bohm, and not a worse hitter against RHP.

[bkox]

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

Trea hasnt played 3B ever.. not even a single game in the Minors. So not something you want to do mid season

[zambonir]

Giving Sosa more playing time than Trea doesn't really make the team better either.

It's crazy how everything still goes back to Harper and Hoskins' injuries, and Hall's as well. Sosa was supposed to be a bit of luxury who could start for Bohm and Stott once a week and maybe even play CF. Especially if he got hot at the plate. Bohm moving partly to 1B exposed Sosa (both at the plate and in the field), Stott is hitting lefties. And for some reason the other guy on the bench is also a light-hitting RHB 2B/3B. At least something will change tomorrow (we think).

[allentown]

I was thinking 2B rather than 3B and also playing less.

[bkox]

The Tampa Bay Rays are acquiring right-hander Aaron Civale from the Cleveland Guardians, sources tell ESPN. They will receive first baseman Kyle Manzardo in return.

Deal is done.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) July 31, 2023

Ranked #37 best prospect on MLB pipeline

[bkox]

I was thinking 2B rather than 3B and also playing less.

they arent gonna bench the $300M man... Not to mention it would just look bad. Almost every player has a bad season. Jimmy Rollins had a .719 OPS in 2009 for instance.

But the other thing is.. even with all the issues.. Trea Turner is 3rd on the team in FWAR. AHead of everyone besides Marsh and Stott.

[allentown]

Not benched, resting more. And playing at 2B.

[zambonir]

That makes sense, but it doesn't really make the team better either. Turner is frustrating and not living up to his paycheck/past performance but he's still managed to put up 1.1 WAR at SS while Bohm and Sosa have combined for 0.1. And Turner still leads the team in SBs and has 10 HRs just like Bohm.

The answer to this stuff - short of the struggling players just playing better - is and isn't from within. These guys have to do better. But resting/half-benching them won't necessarily get them there any more certainly than going out there everyday until they get hot (which Turner did for a while - .767 OPS in June when he's been in the 600s the other three months).

But without better players or different-handed players to support them, reducing Turner or Bohm's playing time is fruitless. Ditto Castellanos (since Cave is obviously not the answer and you don't want Schwarber in the field).

[Aquapong]

Castellanos was supposed to be in LF, Harper in RF, Schwarber the primary DH, and Hoskins at 1B. Two injuries threw that plan out the window.

I don’t think doubling down on this season is wise. Next season, we could potentially have all those guys back where they are supposed to be aside from Hoskins. Maybe we need a lefty to pair with Bohm at 1st and go get ourselves a full time 3b somewhere. It would’ve been nice if Hall or Clemens showed they were worthy of the strong side 1B role, but they didn’t seize the opportunity.

Turner should be fine for the next few years. Yeah he’s slumping hard, but he’s been too consistent to just fall off a cliff without an undisclosed injury. His defense has been fine aside from a few bad plays at bad times.

[LoneStarPhan]

I hope that the Phillies do not expend much in resources/prospects at this trade deadline. Unless they the veterans already on the team start to play better baseball, any additions will be unable to change what they are now. And if those veteran players step up their game, they probably are good enough to move to the top of the wild card standings.

[zambonir]

But all that stuff already happened last year except for losing Hoskins.

Nobody's looking to double down or sell the farm but this is a playoff caliber team - in the modern game - that is no worse (if also no better) than all but two other teams, and possibly only one other team, the Braves (the Phillies still have every chance of finishing with a better record than the NL West champion too, it's just that we still remember how many games the Dodgers won last year).

Improving around the edges while also going after that 4th seed and a better post-season roster is both good baseball sense and good business sense, just like last year's moves were. If some of the current players improve the 4th seed should be there for the taking. If they don't the sixth seed still will be.

Just 24 hours left now. I do almost wonder if Dombrowski is playing possum and will wind up doing something unexpected. That could mean a controllable player like last year or maybe a bigger-name rental like Thor was (if only in name). Otherwise it's a game of musical chairs to see which RH OF and arm are left.

[zambonir]

And speaking of musical chairs, Canha to Brewers.

[BaseballCat]

Cubs To Acquire Jeimer Candelario

Giants Finalizing Deal To Acquire AJ Pollock, Mark Mathias From Mariners

[zambonir]

Pure speculation but seems like it might be Duval. Yankees and Dodgers both supposedly after Pham. There's also Hernandez from the Mariners I suppose.

[bkox]

Herz and Made #14 and #16 Cubs Prospects

RHP Justin Jarvis #30 on the Brewers list is the one going back in the Canha trade.

[Aquapong]

There’s no reason for the Red Sox to trade Duval considering they are only a few out themselves. It looks like Pham or bust as far as rentals. Maybe we swing bigger?

[zambonir]

True but they still might be selling and he's not playing tonight (I believe I saw a tweet about teammate hugs and stuff too but who knows).

[bkox]

The Cincinnati Reds are acquiring left-handed reliever Sam Moll from the Oakland A's for right-hander Joe Boyle, sources tell ESPN.

— Jeff Passan ( @JeffPassan ) July 31, 2023

Boyle #28 on Cincinnati's prospect list

TRADE: #DBacks have acquired RHP Paul Sewald from the #Mariners in exchange for UT Josh Rojas, OF Dominic Canzone, and INF Ryan Bliss.

— MLB Transaction Tracker ( @MLBMovesTracker ) July 31, 2023

Canzone and Bliss become the M's #13 and 14 prospects

The Chicago Cubs are acquiring right-hander Jose Cuas from the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Nelson Velázquez, according to a source familiar with the deal.

— Robert Murray ( @ByRobertMurray ) August 1, 2023

[Sabin]

That makes sense, but it doesn't really make the team better either. Turner is frustrating and not living up to his paycheck/past performance but he's still managed to put up 1.1 WAR at SS while Bohm and Sosa have combined for 0.1.

I get what you're saying, but I don't know that this particular statistic makes for a compelling argument here. WAR compares a specific player at a specific position against a replacement level counterpart. If one were to allow that Stott could at least equal Turner's contribution at SS - which I think at this point is reasonable - having Turner at second may yield greater number, where his defense wouldn't be pressed as much.

Similarly, I would think Sosa's dWAR would be much improved at 2nd, and his oWAR would take less of a hit. Bohm at third exclusively is likely a push; his defense becomes more of an issue and his bat less so than if at first.

Overall the values wouldn't greatly change, but as you're fond of pointing out, just one win can go a long way.

[zambonir]

And I get what you're saying too but at the end of the day Turner is still a good SS (even this year) and it's also not certain Stott is a better one. And I don't think more Sosa and less of Turner is a net positive either.

Regardless, they are next year moves, not panic on July 31 because the team didn't win 15 games this month moves.

It will be an interesting off-season no matter what - including whether the season and playoff results lead to more or less change or if they are proactive and creative about that regardless.