PHILADELPHIA— Rumors are spreading, and the Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches. The Philadelphia Phillies are in the heart of the deadline and are expected to make moves.
What moves will they make? Members of Philly Sports Network speculate.
Matt Watson
I expect the Phillies to make a total of two deals at the 2025 trade deadline. The team desperately needs to add a bat, and while a right-handed bat is preferred, the number of options available is dwindling. Two new bullpen pieces should be just enough as well, considering the club will likely move Jesus Luzardo to the bullpen in October.
Potential Trade #1:
Phillies: Phil Maton, RHP
Cardinals: Alex McFarlane, RHP (20th-ranked prospect)
Currently, the Phillies have Joe Ross, Seth Johnson, Max Lazar, and Daniel Robert as low-leverage right-handed options in their bullpen. They will not need a star to replace these players, but a veteran with playoff experience would do the trick. Maton has pitched in 26 postseason games in his career, including 6 with the New York Mets in 2024. He won’t cost much in terms of prospect return or financially, making it an easy move for the Phillies to explore.
Potential Trade #2:
Phillies: Griffin Jax, RHP & Harrison Bader, OF
Twins: Mick Abel, RHP (6th-ranked prospect), Gabriel Rincones Jr, OF (9th-ranked prospect), & Jean Cabrera, RHP (10th-ranked prospect)
While Jhoan Duran would be an amazing addition to the Phillies’ bullpen, I expect his price tag to get too high. Therefore, the Phillies will settle with Griffin Jax, Duran’s current setup man. Jax meets the Phillies’ preference of adding a player with multiple years of control. The team also needs a right-handed outfielder, which is where Harrison Bader comes into play. Bader can play all three outfield spots while providing quality at-bats and above-average speed. He instantly becomes a replacement option for Johan Roajs.
To add these two veterans, the Phillies will have to part with a decent package. Mick Abel would be the center of the deal, with Jean Cabrera as the piece that closes the deal. Gabriel Rincones would be added to return a position player to Minnesota, where he could get a chance to play in 2025 and beyond.
Justin Crosby
With the current Phillies’ core seemingly running out of time, all indications and reporting are pointing to the Phillies making some “all-in” moves at the trade deadline this season. At least eight teams could win the World Series this year, and what the Phillies do before the July 31st deadline can cement them as a legitimate favorite going into the postseason. Here are my predictions for the moves the Phils make.
Potential Trade #1:
Phillies: Griffin Jax, RHP
Twins: Eduardo Tait, Catcher (4th-ranked prospect); Aroon Escobar, Infielder (5th-ranked prospect); & Mick Abel, RHP (6th-ranked prospect)
The Phillies will land on trading for RP Griffin Jax from the Minnesota Twins, having to give up some true assets to get him. In this deal, they will have to give up Mick Abel, Aroon Escobar, and Eduardo Tait, three top ten prospects, for a reliever with multiple years of control.
Jax is the setup man in Minnesota, usually manning the 8th inning before true closer Jhoan Duran comes in for the ninth. He would likely be asked to close for the Phillies, putting him in a new role, although he has 15 career saves, with a large number of them coming last season. He has a 3.01 ERA in his last 30 appearances across 27 innings, according to FanGraphs. This may be a high price to pay for the Phillies, but they need some stability and swing and miss in the back of the bullpen.
Potential Trade #2:
Phillies: Dennis Santana, RHP
Pirates: Eiberson Castellano, RHP (21st-ranked prospect)
In another move to upgrade the bullpen, the Phillies add Dennis Santana from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for prospect Eiberson Castellano. Santana is a career journeyman who has seemed to figure it out for the Pirates this season. He has a 1.49 ERA in 42.1 innings pitched and usually pitches in high-leverage innings (7th-9th).
Potential Trade #3:
Phillies: Taylor Ward, Left Field
Angels: Griffin Burkholder, Outfielder (11th-ranked prospect) & Alex McFarlane, RHP (20th-ranked prospect)
The Phillies’ power and offense have been very inconsistent this season, with the change of approach at the plate for some players. Being less aggressive for some has taken away some of the power this team has shown in previous seasons, with home runs and doubles. The need for a power bat from the right side is critical with Nick Castellanos and Trea Turner not providing many home runs this season.
Taylor Ward of the Angels could step in and be the power bat that they need in the lineup and play left field every day for the Phils. Ward is batting .233 this year but has 233 homers and 76 RBIs with the Los Angeles Angels. His 76 RBIs would put him first on the Phillies and could protect either Bryce Harper or Kyle Schwarber fourth in the lineup.
Shaun Nestor
There is no in-between for this team. Either they are all-in, making moves left and right at the deadline, or the crickets will be heard all across Philadelphia. I have a feeling it will be the latter. The Phillies will try to make some moves, possibly targeting O’Neil Cruz or Eugenio Suarez, but they will end up getting outbid as they refuse to give up too many of their top prospects. Without the big-ticket items Dave Dombrowski was looking for, they will opt to hold onto their trade chips.
Instead of making trades, they’ll focus on internal additions. Justin Crawford will make his Major League debut in early August, starting a majority of the games from there on out. Aaron Nola‘s return from injury, along with the recall of Mick Abel, the return of Jose Alvarado, and the addition of David Robertson, will help bolster the bullpen. While Nola and Abel are starters, that will mean Taijuan Walker and one other pitcher (likely Abel, Jesús Luzardo, or maybe Ranger Suárez) will eat innings in relief.
It’s not showy, but how the team performs in this scenario would likely determine their direction this offseason and whether their “playoff window” is still open.
Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
