Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Phillies Pegged to Make Big Trade Splash As Deadline Approaches
Calling the Philadelphia Phillies buyers at the MLB Trade Deadline? One publication thinks so.
The Athletic classified each MLB team on tiers based on what they could do at the trade deadline. Teams like the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros were classified as aggressive buyers. The Chicago Cubs were a host of teams classified as tailors.
The Phillies? Well, the site believes they will be buyers at the deadline.
Per The Athletic:
Just as we suspected: As we near the halfway point of the season, the defending NL pennant-winners could badly use … offense? Despite playing fifth-starter roulette for much of the first half, Philadelphia’s rotation has found some steadiness, and its perennially crumbly bullpen has been solid.
The Phillies’ biggest issue offensively is first base. The injury to Rhys Hoskins has removed one of its top offensive weapons from the lineup. As much as the Phillies have tried to make do with players that have some business at the position, grabbing a corner infielder with some pop might be exactly what they need.
That’s why the Phillies have been connected to a pair of St. Louis Cardinals in recent days — first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and third baseman Nolan Arenado. Goldschmidt is a first baseman and designated hitter with one more year left on his contract in 2024. By the, Hoskins — and for that matter Bryce Harper — would be fully healthy and the Phillies could use Goldschmidt as a full-time DH.
Arenado is day-to-day with a back injury, but when healthy he is one of the game’s top hitting third baseman and was just elected an All-Star Game starter. Plus, he’s under team control longer — through 2027 — and is three years younger than Goldschmidt. He would be a longer-term play.
If the Phillies decide to buy, St. Louis would be a good place to start.
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