Phillies trade rumors: Team interested in Zach Wheeler
Another pitcher has come up in the latest Phillies trade rumors
After completing a trade with the New York Mets for shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, the latest Phillies trade rumors have them connected to one of the Mets young starting pitchers.
Zack Wheeler has been mentioned in trade rumors in recent weeks as the Mets began to sell off uncontrolled veteran pieces. Jeurys Familia and Cabrera were the first to go from the Mets roster, but now teams are asking for the right-handed starter who was taken sixth-overall in 2009.
Jon Heyman of Fancred says the Phillies, Braves, Yankees, and Brewers have been connected to Wheeler as the Mets struggle to decide whether or not to move him.
Wheeler, 28, is 5-6 with a 4.11 ERA and is under team control for another season, increasing his value in the trade market. His numbers aren’t flashy, but he has a 3.13 ERA in five July starts for New York. He hasn’t lost a game in over a month after going winless over two months.
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Philadelphia’s backend trio of relievers Nick Pivetta, Vince Velasquez, and Zach Eflin have been inconsistent recently, sparking the rumors around adding a starter. After pitching with a sub-3.35 ERA in the first two months of the season Pivetta has a 6.55 ERA in June and July.
Velasquez has been strong in his last four appearances, one being an extra-inning relief appearance against the Dodgers. In his last 19 innings Velasquez has a 0.95 ERA with 15 strikeouts and a 2-0 record.
After a historic five-game stretch in June, Eflin has been rough in July with a 5.40 ERA in four starts.
Philadelphia has called upon the starters in their minor league system to make spot-starts. Enyel De Los Santos has appeared twice and Ranger Suarez made his major league debut earlier this month. Cole Irvin has been very good in Lehigh Valley and could be the next starter to make his major league debut.
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Don’t expect Philadelphia to make a move for a starter considering their depth, and instead keep an eye on the southpaw hitters and relievers available in the waning hours of the trade deadline.