2023 Phillies/MLB Trade Deadline Speculation/Discussion

[xogfog]

I’m thinking the Phils have to do something big, not just to improve the team, but to maybe spark the guys who are underperforming. To that end, I would be willing to bowl the Cards over for Aranado. You’d have to send them something like Abel, Rojas and Lee, which may sound like a high price to pay, but the window to win is now. Of course that would mean playing Bohm at 1B, and Schwarber in LF most of the time.

[bkox]

Sources: Mariners OF Teoscar Hernández is drawing interest from at least a half-dozen teams, and a trade is increasingly likely before 6 pm ET tomorrow.

The Phillies, Blue Jays and Giants are among the clubs that have been involved. @MLBNetwork @SeattleSports @FAN590

— Jon Morosi ( @jonmorosi ) August 1, 2023

[Patchmk88]

I’d like Hernandez.

[Patchmk88]

Just looked at his stats. He’s been about has bad as Nick in July.

[bkox]

Teoscar Hernández

Sub 700 OPS this year but 800 career OPS.

[BaseballCat]

Unless they go big, I see no fix for this team. If they find better bench people, that is fine, but marginal outfielders are no better than Rojas, Pache or Muzziotti. Hitters have to hit, fielders have to field and pitchers need to pitch. I don’t want to sacrifice the future for Teoscar or Duvall. I just don’t see them making much of a difference.

[zambonir]

yup he will fit right in!

I think a RH OF with some pop is more than marginal, and brings something that Rojas/Pache does not. Both the new guy and those two will be in the mix (though it will be Pache rather than Rojas once he's back.

Nobody's trading the future either. The price for Canha wasn't high. Rentals have never actually gotten top 10 prospects unless they were superstars. It might only be one Top 20 guy and a lottery ticket.

Team isn't actually broken! Just can be better. And can also improve its roster.

[Sabin]

I"m not suggesting they turn to panicked decisions, just pondering those that may help squeeze an extra win or two out of the last two months. I agree that Turner can still be considered a good SS, and that we can't know for certain that Stott would be a better one this season (or just in July and August), but I don't think the argument you presented regarding the respective players' WAR this season makes a case against it.

It's also not about how many games they won in July as it is a playoff race that has five teams locked within half a game of each other coming down the stretch of a playoff race for three WC spots - not to mention a surging Cubs club three back and buying, and the to-this-point underperforming Pads still a part of things as well, 4.5 back.

You're right in that the players just need to play better, but there are slight adjustments that can be considered to do this whether or not better/different-handed players are acquired to support them.

[Austinfan]

Who is going to be an upgrade over Rojas and Pache as a RH OF?

Rojas isn't quite ready, but he's been coming up with big hits, showed last night the patience to work a key BB, and of course his defense will get better with experience - gold glove better!

And while Pache isn't going to maintain that pace, he was a top prospect and looks like he's turning the corner - and like Rojas, what you might lose in power, you more than gain in speed and defense.

[zambonir]

They are not going to play Rojas or Pache every day so the question is moot. I think it would be fun to keep both of them, replace Harrison with one of them and Cave with the new guy. But otherwise Rojas goes back to the minors unless Pache gets hurt again.

Pache could also be traded. Rojas does seem up to the role, and Pache can't be optioned.

Sabin, agreed they need to get a little better to stay in it or make progress for the playoff spot. They've already actually shown they could beat their potential World Series opponent twice in July (even as they didn't show that against the Brewers or some lesser teams).

[Austinfan]

Let's be frank, they're not going anywhere unless Harper regains his MVP form, and JT, Castellanos and Turner start hitting. At some point, you have to stop looking for external fixes and ask your highly paid "stars" to earn their money.

The pitching is more than good enough for a 100 win team if they were a top 5 offensive team (which they should be with that payroll and the kids playing above expectations), instead of a below average offense with below average defense.

[zambonir]

That analysis is the good news not the bad news. They are already a likely playoff team (currently 66.6%) and 86-87 win team currently, exactly the same as last year. Compared to last year they have even won games at a greater pace since June 1 (.620, 101 wins). If the hitters come around the 4th seed is more reachable than it was last year. But that also doesn't mean you don't upgrade a small need or improve your depth. Conversely, the pitching they've gotten still doesn't look like it can be counted on 100% (due to health or inconsistency of a few key starters and relievers as well as overuse of a few relievers). Which is also all the more reason to tweak/add/prepare for that reality.

What gets lost here too is that most of the other teams are no less unwatchable/no better than the Phillies. The Dodgers have a 6.00+ ERA from their rotation in July. The Rays have only averaged 3-something runs per game in July. The Dodgers, Giants, Brewers and Marlins all have worse records than the Phillies over the last 10 games (if only by one loss).

[Jazzhead]

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.

Now, that's exactly the reason I reach the opposite conclusion - expend some resources to go for it. The likelihood is that our underperforming veterans will "progress" to the mean, so bet on 'em and fill our remaining holes.

[Jazzhead]

I’d like Hernandez.

Me too, now that Bellinger won't be traded. Teoscar can be the big bat that Hoskins was supposed to be. Strikes out a bit much, but otherwise a beast.

[andyb]

The question is also which right-handed bat can play WITH Pache or Rojas. I actually have little confidence in the offense of either. More in Pache than Rojas but he has also been mediocre much of his career. Rojas has no book on him and will stop seeing strikes and most likely have more difficulty because he is not ready yet.

But we can play the right-handed power bat in LF and one of them (or Marsh) in CF. Schwarber should also sit once in a while against tough lefties.

We are just not great against left-handed pitching and if it costs us a prospect ranked in the 20-30 range in our system it is probably worth it to improve there.

[zambonir]

I'm starting to think they will get two players (bat and arm) from one team a la the Gibson deal (which was a starter and reliever). Technically they did that last year too but in separate trades (Marsh/Thor).

[allentown]

They can certainly play one of them every day. They are playing well.

[zambonir]

SSS if nothing else. I think the Phillies' feelings on that are already clear in their intentions, and soon will be in their actions. They are also not meant to play against RHP and Cave is not the answer either. The vets the Phillies are rumored to be interested in are still decent against RHP too.

[flyers19rw]

The club just doesn't hit the long ball like in year's past. Part of it is due to the Harper and Hoskins injuries; the other is the fact that the highly paid guys can't get the ball over the wall enough. Despite playing in a band box, the Phillies are tenth in the league in HRs. Could be worse if not for Schwarber. They are sixth in slugging due to being third in doubles and second in triples. The lack of homers puts the club in ninth place for RBIs and probably is a factor in them being fourth in LOB.
The club either needs more output from the power guys or go to more of a speed game in order to manufacture runs. There isn't a long ball hitter on the market that is better at that than what the Phillies presently have on the roster if these guys played up to expectations. It may be time to just emphasize getting on, moving them over and knocking them in.

[zambonir]

I think it's more likely these guys find their power than it is they suddenly excel at small ball or even RISP (though the latter really does just come and go). For sure it's intriguing to see what a guy like Rojas can do with the new rules. But why not just do both?

The guy they add today may not be someone who ever get invited to the home run derby but he's still going to add thump. Hernandez would have the second-most home runs (but a lot less OPS than Pham or Duvall).

I still won't be surprised if they make a bigger pitching move. That is how they are winning, but could still be one injury/regression (or more struggles from Nola) away from not being able to keep that up. While Gibson and Thor were not great, they both helped in their respective trade years. And not getting more in 2020 sunk them (at the plate as well when more guys got injured in the short season).