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Phillies should prioritize bullpen over offense at the trade deadline

By Sean Resch |
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Yacksel Rios #53 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on after giving up a two run home run to Daniel Descalso #3 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park on April 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Diamondbacks defeated the Phillies 8-4. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: Yacksel Rios #53 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on after giving up a two run home run to Daniel Descalso #3 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the top of the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park on April 24, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Diamondbacks defeated the Phillies 8-4. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The Phillies may want to look a little more toward the bullpen for help than the hot corner.

The possibility of the Phillies landing superstar infielder Manny Machado before the July 31 trade deadline is extremely enticing, that much is obvious.  The guy is a cornerstone piece for any franchise, but would he be willing to re-sign in Philly?

The answer to that question is most likely no.  Machado, like most young sports stars, has never had the opportunity to hit the free agent market.  And he is going to get paid… a lot.

The Phillies offense is not the most potent in the league, but they are certainly not the worst.  According to TeamRankings, they sit in the middle of the pack at 4.35 runs scored per game.

Thanks to injuries, JP Crawford (.194 BA in 34 games) will probably not be a big-time contributor this season.  In Crawford’s absence with a broken hand, Maikel Franco has done just enough.

Franco’s name has appeared in trade rumors, most recently linking him to the Padres.

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The problem here is that there is really nobody behind Franco to play third base currently on the roster.  If the Phillies move him, then expect a name like Machado or the Rangers’ Adrian Beltre to be heavily linked to the team.  Either one would be a luxury, but both will be free agents at the end of the season.

An argument can be made that the Phillies may want to stay put this season when it comes to third base.  A trade for a reliever could be a better idea.

Outside of Seranthony Dominguez, whose statue should be going up outside of Citizen’s Bank Park soon, the bullpen has largely been a disaster.  Watching the likes of Tommy Hunter, Luis Garcia, and Adam Morgan, any attempt to maintain a lead is akin to driving a nail into one’s eye on a nightly basis.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 20: Jake Diekman #63 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch in the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park on July 20, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 5-3. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 20: Jake Diekman #63 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch in the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park on July 20, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 5-3. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

NJ.com provided four possible relief options, with one name that Phillies fans will remember.  Jake Diekman (3.86 ERA, 11.3 SO/9 in 28.0 IP) could be a possible target to return to the City of Brotherly Love.  There are better options available though.

The best option, for club control, would come with San Diego’s Brad Hand (2.75 ERA, 22 saves).  He is under contract through 2021, so giving up some value, in this case, may be worth it.  He has only given up four hits to lefties all year and has limited right-handed hitters to a .234 batting average.

The moral of the story here is that the Phils should take a careful approach when it comes to the big-name bats.  It is not likely that they will be competing for a World Series this year, so bringing in a rental player and parting with a lot of valuable talent does not make much sense.

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The Phillies will be firmly in the running to sign any free agent they would like in the offseason, but the focus, for now, should be on some relief help.  Pat Neshek’s pending, and much anticipated, return from the disabled list will help, but will not be enough to ignore the glaring hole on this team.

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