Why the Phillies should not be passive at the trade deadline
With the trade deadline just two days away, Matt Klentak and the Phillies are not expected to make a big splash. But should they?
With the trade deadline approaching this Tuesday, the Phillies are buyers for the first time in Matt Klentak’s tenure as General Manager. It is also the first time in the Klentak era the Phillies are in the midst of a playoff hunt. Despite dropping their last three games to the Cincinnati Reds, the Phillies remain 11 games over .500 with a one and a half game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
Despite all that, the Phillies are a very flawed team. They lacked an impact bat that could man the left side of the infield; they got that in the form of former Met Asdrubal Cabrera. Cabrera was a good get. He currently has a higher average than any member of the Phillies this year while also slugging 18 home runs alongside 58 RBI. While this does fix a flaw in the roster, the Phillies are expected to stand pat for the rest of the deadline.
But should they? Let’s take a closer look.
Evaluating the needs
As the Phillies prep for the rest of the regular season and plan for October they still need starting pitching and bullpen help, both which have shown over the last two games. Yet, they remain very hesitant to trade any prospects to make a blockbuster deal, just as they did with Manny Machado.
Let’s play internet GM for a second. I am not one of the people that believed the Phillies should have sacrificed Sixto Sanchez, Alec Bohm and Adonis Medina all in one deal. I, however, would have made three rules: No Sanchez, no Bohm, and not giving up the third, fourth and fifth prospects (Medina, Adam Haseley, and JoJo Romero) all in one deal. I would have offered a deal consisting of Medina, Haseley or Mickey Moniak, Jhailyn Ortiz and an option of Ranger Suarez or Cole Irvin. But while that deal is in the past I believe the rules could apply to a blockbuster deal in the near future.
Klentak did deal with the major offensive issue on the team, an infield bat. I would rather keep Roman Quinn than trading for an outfield bat like Nicholas Castellanos, Derek Dietrich, or Adam Jones. While it is not the best offense in the league, it has improved with the addition of Cabrera and will hopefully be good enough to guide the Phillies to a playoff berth.
The bullpen has improved a lot recently. With the emergence of Seranthony Dominguez (10 SV 2.02 ERA) and Victor Arano (2.31 ERA 1.08 WHIP) and the return of Pat Neshek, who hasn’t given up a run in 10 appearances, the bullpen has become very solid.
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The one thing it does lack is a bonafide closer. While Dominguez has filled the role he doesn’t exactly reflect a typical closer. One on the market is Raisel Iglesias. Since Iglesias isn’t a free agent until 2021, it would make him harder to acquire. He could be worth the asking price. With 20 saves matched with a 2.14 ERA and a WHIP below 1.00 he has become one of the most dominant relievers in the game. The 26-year-old has had an ERA below 2.60 over the past three years since switching to the bullpen. He has totaled 54 saves over the span as well. The length of his contract could lead to a large asking price on the Reds behalf, but he is a very valuable option.
Aaron Nola has been phenomenal this year. He has developed and has become a true ace in the league. Jake Arrieta has been solid at 8-6 with a 3.45 ERA. He is not as dominant as some Phillies fans would have hoped, but he has still proven to be a great offseason acquisition.
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Then there’s everyone else. Zach Eflin, Nick Pivetta, and Vince Velasquez have shown flashes of brilliance, but it’s mainly just been flashes. Eflin is the only one with a sub 4.00 ERA which is mainly thanks to a phenomenal June. But their inconsistency will become a major issue if Gabe Kapler is trying to manage a bullpen that is throwing four or five innings in some games.
So let’s get Jacob DeGrom.
While Chris Archer is also an option, the Rays are asking for the price of a number one pitcher while I view him as a two or three sort of guy. There is no question about DeGrom. With a league-best 1.82 ERA, he also maintains a 0.98 WHIP with a K/9 of 10.67.
The 30 year old is controlled by the Mets through 2020 and while it is reported the Mets do not want to part with him, I say we go all in.
Potential Future
In the words of Forrest Gump, sort of, “Prospects are like a box of chocolate, you never know what your going to get.” Are we really expecting JoJo Romero to have a career 2.78 ERA? Is Adonis Medina going to be a top five pitcher in baseball? Are we going to bet on the potential of Cole Irvin over the stability and proven greatness of Degrom? I personally believe that Matt Klentak should call up Sandy Alderson and put together a package deal (following the same three rules as before) that will bring Degrom to the city of brotherly love.
Imagine this 2019 or 2020 rotation:
1: Aaron Nola
2: Jacob DeGrom
3: Sixto Sanchez
4: Jake Arrieta
5: Zach Eflin (Or another added pitcher)
Next. Recent struggles by Zach Eflin cause for concern. dark
Match that dominant rotation up with an offensive containing prime Odubel Herrera and Rhys Hoskins, an emerging Scott Kingery, and hopefully Manny Machado or Bryce Harper. If that doesn’t sound like a World Series team then I do not know what does. So Matt, make it happen.