2023 Phillies/MLB Trade Deadline Speculation/Discussion

[Sabin]

Mlbtr has a 50 top trade targets article up.

Hey! David Robertson is available.

[EDmuch]

Is there anyone left on the A’s that is worth pursuing?

[EDmuch]

Because of his defense, I could see the Phils make a real play for Bellamger.

[schillingfan]

Boom just made an amazing play in the ninth inning.

[zambonir]

He did. Ronald Torreyes used to get big hits too.

[BostonRoss]

I saw Ronald Torreyes go 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI at Fenway Park, including a home run off Nick Pivetta. Cristopher Sanchez's first major league win. Save for Ranger. Alvarado was the Phillies' worst pitcher of the day, giving up hits to four of the five batters he faced. Seems like a long time ago, but it was just under two years ago.

[kmc1019]

Sanchez for Bellinger and Stroman seems like a fair trade at the moment.

[phillychuck]

Trading Sanchez wold be trading high on him. He has really plugged the 5th starter hole for now, though.

[Jazzhead]

I really don't know if this organization needs to make a big move.

I am in this camp right now. The big move will be the Harper experiment at first base, which if successful will solve the issue of Schwarber having to play left field every day and open up a starting spot for Pache or maybe one of the AAA guys. We have four solid starters and, possibly, with Sanchez, a fifth.

If we do a trade, it should be for a reliever who can pitch multiple innings.

[Jazzhead]

Because of his defense, I could see the Phils make a real play for Bellamger.

Yes, Bellinger would be a useful addition, albeit an expensive one. Remember, too, that he plays great defense at first as well as in the outfield.

[zambonir]

It will be interesting to see if they become more aggressive or less aggressive if this run continues. OTOH if you've truly got a .600 team the rest of the way you don't need as much, and can give the guys in AAA more of a chance. But, you can also always get better.

They may not need pitching at all. An upgrade over Harrison may be the only obvious hole (but that also requires them to actually be ready to bag Harrison).

Bellinger really shouldn't cost that much if the Phillies pick up all his salary (a la Thor). If not, they give up more in the deal. But I don't think a lefty OF (or 1B) is really what they need.

[andyb]

Bellinger really shouldn't cost that much if the Phillies pick up all his salary (a la Thor).

Hey, we gave up an outfielder with a 967 OPS for Thor.

[zambonir]

Haha yeah and I'd probably give up Muzziotti for Bellinger. But not Rojas or Crawford.

While we're all wondering how Harper is going to do at 1B and curious about Song, we also can't completely rule out the fact that the Phillies might think Hoskins will be ready to DH in October, though I can't but wonder how effective he'd be even if that's realistic.

[BostonRoss]

I think the Phillies need to consider adding depth. I think it’s likely there will be at least one significant injury before the end of the year. What if Harper or Schwarber or Castellanos gets hurt? Or a starting pitcher? If they can get a veteran who can jump in at a minimal cost in prospects, go for it.

[Callison]

Though we may like the way the team is finally coming around, there are still huge weaknesses that could be covered in trade. One place where you can usually find some bargains is the long relief guys and the Phils absolutely need a couple. The only people who don't think so are the guys running the Phils and I really hope they're right, but we've seen how bad it can get a time or two.

Got no traction here with the Hader dream, but adding a top closer to this team would make them dangerous, even on the days they forget to hit.

Be curious to hear who anybody thinks is a .300 hitter the Phils can get. Bellinger has a great past and a Dodgers pedigree and he might be the steal of the trade market for the Phils. He might welcome the trade and get reborn. One more hitter in the Phils' lineup could lift the rest, too.

Saw that the Dodgers also will go after Goldschmidt if he becomes available.

But IMHO the Phils absolutely need to make a move because everybody else is. Waiting for it to happen is like a rain delay in the 9th. Lots of talent out there.

[BostonRoss]

Saw that the Dodgers also will go after Goldschmidt if he becomes available.

Wow. The Dodgers have All-Stars at 1B and DH.

[allentown]

But, you can also always get better.

True, but that doesn't mean you'll go deeper, or even as deep, in the playoffs. We saw that with the improvements to the 2008 World Series team. The team was strengthened every year, up through 2011, and did progressively worse in the playoffs. In the end, the cost of all the additions and the aging of the roster left the Phillies a shattered organization for a decade.

[zambonir]

Yeah, but it's not only about the playoffs. I wouldn't take back what Roy H and Cliff Lee did for those teams (though I'd take back letting Cliff go in the first place). Nor what the 2011 team did all season. Hunter Pence I never really got.

And the deadline deals didn't really hurt the Phillies as much as the free agents/lost draft picks, and then the doubling down on the aging core post 2011 (and even as late as 2014 when they were signing AJ Burnett instead of starting a rebuild). And who can even say if that regime would have been able to draft or develop anyone any better even with more quantity. The organization was shattered for far more reasons than that.

I'd be shocked if they make a big move at the deadline for an everyday player who is also a rental. But a bench player or a platoon player yes. A controllable player, maybe.

Saying that trying to get better doesn't mean you'll do as well in the playoffs also applies to the guys in AAA. Granted, they are free. But there is tradeable depth to work with. And if Cave and Muzziotti aren't in their plans for next year, trade them now. (If the only pursue a RHB one of them should still get a chance this year though.)

[bkox]

Phillies might think Hoskins will be ready to DH in October, though I can't but wonder how effective he'd be even if that's realistic.

Schwarber missed the entire 2016 season and both rounds of the playoffs and then hit .412 with a .971 OPS in the world series

[zambonir]

Right, and Hoskins' injury was 8-9 days sooner than Schwarber's was. But Schwarber was also 23. Seems more likely he'd look more like Harper (this year or last year).

I don't think the Phillies can really make any moves (or non-moves) based on the possibility of Hoskins being available by the World Series. They'd need to feel like he can be back by the Division Series, IMO, to actively decide they don't want a better RH hitter than Harrison.

But also if Harper is your 1B and Hoskins comes back that puts Schwarber back in LF. I don't think anyone would want to see that in the middle of the playoffs if Schwarber also hasn't played the OF for two months.