Phillies: Top 10 Players with the Most Trade Deadline Value
Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is just over a month away, and the Phillies will be an interesting team to monitor over the next four weeks.
While many of the players on this team are either core pieces or not valuable enough to be moved, there are a couple of players on the trade block Matt Klentak and Andy MacPhail could potentially move this summer.
Here are some of the players the Phillies will most likely be holding onto at this years trade deadline: Maikel Franco, Aaron Nola, Vincent Velasquez, Tommy Joseph, Jerad Eickhoff, Zach Eflin, Tyler Goeddel (Rule 5), Edubray Ramos
All seven of those players are young pieces to the puzzle and it would be shocking to see any of them moved. Goeddel can not be traded, as he is a Rule 5 pick and can only be offered back to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Second, there is a group of players with little to no value on this team: Cesar Hernandez, Adam Morgan, Elvis Araujo, Cody Asche, Severino Gonzalez, Jimmy Paredes, David Hernandez. Unless a team wants Asche or Hernandez as a low-end bench player, I highly doubt any of these guys are able to be moved at the deadline.
Finally, there are around 10 or 11 players with tradable value. Should Jeremy Hellickson improve in some of his upcoming starts, he could be a candidate for a team looking for a low-cost option.
Here are the 10 other Phillies who could be on the move.
Next: 10. Cameron Rupp
Cameron Rupp
While he won’t be a name that will be a blockbuster for any team, Cameron Rupp has shown his value as a quality catcher who can bring multiple tools to a contending team. His raw power at the plate makes him a candidate to hit either six or seventh in a line-up and protect the power hitters in the middle of the card.
Defensively he can provide help as well. We have seen him make some very good moves behind home plate as the Phillies starting catcher in 2016, and he calls a decent game.
You are not going to make this trade unless you know Jorge Alfaro or Andrew Knapp is ready to come up that day. Unless there is a veteran on the market you can make a cash considerations trade for, he is most likely staying in Philadelphia.
Look for him to be a possible waiver-trade in August prior to rosters expanding.
Next: A Healthy Andrew Bailey
Andrew Bailey
A healthy Andrew Bailey could be a key addition to a contending team looking for a bullpen arm. If not for a strained hamstring that landed him on the DL this week, he would be towards the top of this list.
A team looking for a quality seventh inning pitcher could take a revitalized Andrew Bailey and possibly sign him to a long term deal at the end of the season. If he comes back healthy from his hamstring injury, a mid-level prospect us to be expected as collateral.
Next: Chooch
Carlos Ruiz
No one wants to see Chooch go, but the time has come. While I am all in favor of keeping him to help Alfaro, Knapp, and the pitching staff, he could be a big asset to a team needing a veteran catcher who calls the best game in baseball.
I think the Red Sox would love to have a veteran like Ruiz for the final stretch of the season. With a championship pedigree, Chooch can help a young group of catchers and be a quality bench player in the American League.
Next: Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard
The only reason Ryan Howard has an ounce of value is his home run potential as a designated hitter or bench player. He’s grown into a Matt Stairs role as the veteran who can lead a clubhouse and provide power late in the game.
His trade value is limited though, as we have all seen his bat speed diminish and his pitch recognition fade. But we all know what he can do with a hanging curveball.
The Phillies have limited options as to where they could send Howard for a mid-tier prospect, but an injury could change all of that.
Next: Freddy Galvis
Freddy Galvis
A team that trades for Freddy Galvis is paying for his glove at shortstop and not much else. He is a Gold Glove candidate this year based on his defensive numbers and can sure-up the middle of any infield in the major leagues.
While his bat is not the most consistent one on the market, he has enough raw ability to get some extra base hits and possibly provide double-digit home run numbers for the first time in his career.
Even though trading inside the division is highly frowned upon, especially with an energetic guy like Freddy, the Nationals would be a place for Galvis while Washington’s top prospect Trea Turner works his way up from Triple-A. If Toronto or Baltimore has issues with aging Troy Tulowitzki or J.J. Hardy respectively, Galvis would be a cheap band-aid in the middle of the field.
Next: Peter Bourjos
Peter Bourjos
At face value Peter Bourjos doesn’t bring a lot for most teams. He provides limited hitting ability and has proven not to be an everyday major league player.
That being said, Bourjos makes sense as a role player on an American League team. The 29-year-old outfielder can provide speed off the bench, and serve as a defensive replacement across the outfield late in games. He is the pinch-runner/defensive specialist every championship manager wants to have in their arsenal.
Baltimore makes too much sense not to make a move with. Mark Trumbo is a major power bat for them in right field, but is limited defensively. Similar to what the Phillies did with Pat Burrell, the Orioles can take out Trumbo late in games when ahead and pinch-run Bourjos in his place.
Buck Showalter’s Orioles are also in dead last with only 12 stolen bases this season. Having stolen 22 bases only a couple of seasons ago, Peter Bourjos can be moved for a Single-A pitcher with low-risk, high-reward ability.
Next: Andres Blanco
Andres Blanco
Introducing the “Eric Bruntlett” for a championship team needing depth. Andres Blanco has played every position in his career, excluding pitcher and catcher. Similar to Peter Bourjos, Andres Blanco has a specific role on a contending team as their primary utility player off of the bench.
Pete MacKanin said Blanco is one of his favorite players because he does a little bit of everything. He is hitting .320 over his past seven games and .274 on the season in Philadelphia.
The Chicago Cubs would be a fit for Blanco, as they only have one pure infield depth player. A championship contender, the Cubs can rest their young stars heading into the playoffs and still have a productive bat and glove off the bench with Andres Blanco.
Next: Brett Oberholtzer
Brett Oberholtzer
Just as every team needs an Eric Bruntlett or Matt Stairs, every team needs a Brett Myers/Joe Blanton. A pitcher who can be an innings eater either as a starter or long-man in the bullpen.
Acquired in the Vince Velasquez trade, Oberholtzer has been incredibly valuable for Philadelphia. He averages more than two innings per outing, as well as more than a strikeout per appearance. As a long-man out of the Phillies bullpen, he has kept the team in games for much of the early season.
His value as a starter could also be key for a team looking to make a late season run. Boston will also be looking for back of the rotation help, as well as bullpen arms.
Next: Jeanmar Gomez
Jeanmar Gomez
Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez opened up eyes at the start of the season, despite not even being considered a candidate for the closers job. With so man one-run games early in the season, Gomez quickly racked up the most saves in all of baseball.
With the sudden fall of the Phillies eliminating save opportunities for Gomez, he has not gotten enough work in. The Phillies could find a team strapping for a closer and get a decent return on a guy they never envisioned having this kind of early season success.
I’d say leave Gomez in San Francisco and fill his seat on the plane with one of the Giants prospects. We saw how volatile the back of their bullpen is Friday night after nearly blowing the game in the ninth inning. I say pull a Billy Bean and send him to the other clubhouse across the ballpark during the series.
Next: Odubel Herrera
Odubel Herrera
They are many legitimate reasons to keep Odubel and make him the leadoff hitter for a World Series team in Philadelphia. He consistently hits .300, brings solid defense, and speed on the basepads.
However, there are just as many reasons to be taking calls on him and consider your options. The Phillies have three legitimate centerfield prospects in their organization: Nick Williams, Mickey Moniak, and Roman Quinn. Second, Herrera’s bonehead plays as a baserunner, at the plate, and in the field will hurt him and the Phillies.
If someone came to Matt Klentak and offered a solid package for a young .300 hitter with decent defense, he would have to strongly consider making the move at the right price.