As the trade deadline rapidly approaches, the pressure on the Philadelphia Phillies is increasing.
The Phillies have a championship window that could be shrinking by the minute, as most of their stars are over 30, and Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto are nearing free agency. The 2025 season might be their last, best shot to win a title with this exact core.
So the Phillies, who need a reliever and possibly a center fielder, can and should make some big splashes before Thursday arrives. But in order to do that, they'll also need to say goodbye to some top prospect talent.
That's never an easy decision to make, but a Phillies insider believes he knows the most likely prospect to be on the move.
On Friday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic predicted that the Phillies would trade former first-round pick Mick Abel, a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher who made his debut earlier this season, to address their needs.
"No one ever has enough starting pitching, which is why Abel’s renaissance season is important," wrote Gelb.
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"He was a first-round pick for a reason, and he’s regained confidence. But he projects as the sixth or seventh starter now and in 2026 for the Phillies. That makes him a trade chip."
With a 1.83 ERA in Triple-A this year, Abel has boosted his trade value at the perfect time. And because he owns a 5.06 ERA in six big-league starts, the Phillies don't really need to worry about him challenging for a rotation spot right away.
Plus, Philadelphia has Andrew Painter, another ex-first-rounder with even higher prospect pedigree, waiting to make his debut sometime later this year or early in 2026.
Obviously, the Phillies have to get something of value to let Abel go. But it seems a safe assumption that he'd be involved in any deal that gets fans excited about the second half.
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