Philly Front Office

BIGGER UPDATE: PHILLIES GET JHOAN DURAN

Update: The Angels just traded for Andrew Chafin and Luis Garcia from the Nationals which makes them buyers. I hate them.

Here is everything you need to prepare for the last day and a half before the MLB Trade Deadline including news and rumors affecting the Phillies, team needs, team assets, and how money will be a huge consideration. Also, here are links to buyers we are competing with as well as all the sellers and their wares.

Recap:

• Old friend Seranthony Dominguez heads from the Orioles to the Blue Jays. No ill will to the only person I’ll always properly address as Sir
• The Mets need bullpen help and got old friend now mortal enemy Greg Soto from the Orioles. His 100 mph fastball is supposed to dominate lefties, but there is a reason why he isn’t a Phillie anymore.
• Emmanuel Clase is under investigation for illegal sports betting and won’t pitch until at least August 31. He is essentially off the market
• Julio Lugo resigned with the Royals meaning one less starting pitcher is on the market. The Phillies aren’t in that market, but the Mets, Dodgers, and Cubs are.
• Aaron Judge is hurt. This could mean the Yankees are in need of an outfielder. The Phillies are absolutely in on that market.
• The Yankees already traded for Ryan McMahon and his contract from the Rockies which probably takes them out of the Eugenio Suarez market
• UPDATE: Mets get Ryan Helsley and Tyler Rodgers

Phillies Needs:

• Closer – Everyone in the bullpen would benefit greatly from being moved down a level. Strahm isn’t a closer and neither is Kerkering. Putting those guys in for the 7th and 8th inning, not terrible! We need to get to a place where Jordan Romano can be released. Here is a full preview on the available closers on the market.
• Outfielder – It doesn’t matter if they can play every day or only against lefties, in left or center, the Phillies just need someone who can hit. Here is a full preview of the available outfield bats for the Phillies to bid on.

Phillies Rumors:

• Report this morning is that the Phillies and Mets were in on Ryan Helsley, the closer for the Cardinals. The report claimed they would be “aggressive” which doesn’t mean anything
• Luis Robert is auditioning in person for the Phillies and killed us on Monday. The Mets are apparently dangling the younger Acuna for him but the White Sox want Mark Vientos. If those reports are true, that’s insane and the Phillies won’t match that.
• There have been more that a few reports of the Phillies being in on right handed 3rd baseman Eugenio Suarez. While me he has incredible power, he can’t play the outfield. Very interesting.

Luis Robert Jr. Isn’t As Bad As You Think!

Assets:

The Phillies boast a solid farm system with 6 players in the MLB Top 100 prospects (rank in parenthesis). They have some decent filler after that too:

• Andrew Painter (#8): He is having a rough go in AAA but he is still a legit stud prospect. The only way he gets traded is for a controllable stud player that isn’t currently on our radar.
• Aiden Miller (#18): The shortstop is struggling in AA but is young for the league at a just-turned 21 years old. Miller is a consensus top 50 prospect in every major publication. All teams are going to ask for him in exchange for their star closer, but he might be too much to give up.
• Justin Crawford (#44): Maybe the most polarizing prospect ever in that he hits well over .300 and steals all the bases while playing a good centerfield, but can’t NOT hit the ball on the ground. If he isn’t traded, look for him to be in Philadelphia by the weekend.
• Eduardo Tait (#56): An 18-year-old catcher who looks more mature than I do. It is 50/50 whether he can stick behind the plate, but he is a very strong kid.
• Aroon Escobar (#86): The second baseman rocketed up prospect lists by just hitting at every level. He was recently promoted to High A as a 20 year old.
• Mick Abel (#92): After disappearing from prospect lists, Abel showed out this season. He is clearly too good for AAA at this point and is the most likely player in this list to get dealt. If for some reason he is not moved (doubtful) he should get fitted for the bullpen immediately.
• Dante Nori: Last year’s #1 pick is almost 21 and in A ball, but probably gets a promotion after the deadline. The outfielder is fast and has a solid K:BB ratio that should help him going forward. Phillies #7.
• Gabriel Rincones Jr.: The large mashing outfielder is 24 and in AAA with no real path to the big leagues right now. His average and power are down, but he has a good knowledge of the strike zone with a 58:83 ratio. Phillies #9.
• Jean Cabrera: AA pitcher who has shown a ton of improvement as he has been promoted. He is listed at 6′, 145 pounds (???) and pitches in the mid-90s. Phillies #10
• PTBNL: The Phillies can’t trade any of their recent draft picks yet. However, they can be put on a list of Players to be Named Later so that they can eventually be traded. I wouldn’t expect this, but it is possible.

Money:

• The Phillies are currently over the final pay threshold of $301m. This means that every dollar spent will cost the team an additional 110% tax. For the “it’s not my money” crowd, just know that the Jon Middleton might say he wants to spend “stupid money” but that has a limit. They are very close to a $350m bill for the season.
• This could mean that the team is willing to ship out better prospects in order to take on less money. Someone like Luis Robert will cost a pro-rated $16m, which comes to like $5m. That means his total bill will be $10.5m.
• It also could mean that the Phillies make some minor deals to get rid of certain contracts. Taijuan Walker costs $18m next season and has about $6.5m remaining this year. He is having a solid year rather surprisingly, but it not going to be much use to the Phillies down the stretch with Nola coming back and Painter waiting in the wings. Could the team move him by paying down let’s say $10m of next year’s salary? They are going to consider this.
• If Eugenio Suarez is really on the Phillies radar then don’t be surprised if part of the package going back is Alec Bohm. He’s under control next year at a likely reasonable $10m arbitration salary. Plus a prorated part of his $7.7m 2025 salary would help offset Suarez and his $15m pay. Keep it in mind