After a demoralizing loss to the New York Mets in last year’s National League Division Series, the Philadelphia Phillies looked primed for another October run.
The club currently sits a half-game back of the New York Mets in the National League East, thanks in large part to arguably the best starting pitching trio in the game. Zach Wheeler, Christopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez have each posted an ERA no higher than 2.66 while combining for 13.1 WAR, helping the rotation overcome the loss of Aaron Nola to an ankle injury and the inconsistencies of Jesús Luzardo. The offense, meanwhile, has been powered by Kyle Schwarber’s 34 home runs and strong campaigns from Trea Turner and Bryce Harper.
Yet after three straight postseason appearances, simply getting to October baseball isn’t enough for a team loaded with veteran stars. If the Phillies want to win their first World Series since 2008, they are going to have to address two familiar bugaboos. The bullpen has once again been a work in progress, as Jordan Romano has failed to replace departed closer Jeff Hoffman and lefty specialist Jose Alvarado will be ineligible for postseason play after receiving an 80-game PED suspension. The Phillies' lack of lineup depth has also failed to be addressed despite numerous offseason efforts, as only four players on the Phillies roster have an OPS+ above 100.
With Wheeler, Schwarber, Nola, Turner, Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos all on the wrong side of 30 and Schwarber set to hit free agency after this season, this could be the Phillies best and last chance at a World Series title, which is why ESPN’s Buster Onley ranked them as the second-most desperate team at the trade deadline this season.
“The major question that hangs over this Philadelphia team is about the bullpen. Is there enough depth in power?” Olney wrote. “The Phillies paid heavily for free agent reliever David Robertson, giving him the equivalent of a $16 million salary for the rest of the regular season, but they could use another reliever who is adept at shutting down high-end right-handed hitters in the postseason.”
With such obvious needs, it’s no wonder that the Phillies have been linked to dominant late-inning arms like Minnesota Twins’ right-handers Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran and St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley. They could also look to swing a deal for an outfielder like Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins or Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. Unlike previous seasons, the Phillies have the farm system depth to take big swings, meaning no one should be surprised if “Dealer” Dave Dombrowski makes a big splash at this year’s trade deadline.
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