Phillies trade rumors: Five trade targets for August waiver trade deadline

1 of 6

CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 3: Josh Donaldson #20 of the Toronto Blue Jays tosses his bat after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians in game two of a doubleheader at Progressive Field on May 3, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

The Phillies could still wind up making a few moves in August before the waiver trade deadline. Here are five players they could pursue.

The Phillies were quite active as the non-waiver trade period closed Tuesday afternoon. They made two moves, acquiring Wilson Ramos from the Rays and Aaron Loup from the Blue Jays. Neither cost much in terms of prospect talent and should help the team in their playoff push.

Even though the main trade deadline has passed, more moves could still be made in August. Trades can still be made until Aug. 31, but the player(s) being traded have to pass through waivers first. Major trades still happen during this time; for example, the Astros picked up Justin Verlander just minutes before the waiver deadline last year.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at five players who could be trade targets for the Phillies during August.

Josh Donaldson

Josh Donaldson was expected to be moved before the July deadline this year until injuries took their toll. He missed time earlier this year with a shoulder injury and has not played since May 28 due to a calf issue. Donaldson has resumed baseball activities but has not started an official rehab assignment. Assuming he gets healthy and returns at some point in August, the Blue Jays will certainly try to deal him.

When Donaldson has played this year, he hasn’t been his normal self. He has a .234/.333/.423 line with a 105 wRC+. While his season is still considered above-average, it pales in comparison to his numbers the last three years.

A healthy Donaldson is a force to be reckoned with. In 426 games between 2015 and 2017, Donaldson had 111 home runs, 300 runs batted in, and a .946 OPS (151 OPS+). Only Mike Trout was worth more wins above replacement during this time according to Fangraphs. He won the MVP award in 2015, finished fourth in voting in 2016, and finished 22nd in 2017 despite only playing 113 games.

Adding a healthy Donaldson to this team for September would be game-changing in a division expected to be close down the stretch. As long as he is, in fact, healthy, the Phillies would suddenly have a very potent lineup. Even if they don’t pick him up then, adding him during the offseason via free agency is still a possibility.

Andrew McCutchen

The Giants would probably love to shed Andrew McCutchen’s $14.75 million salary before the August waiver trade deadline. They need every dollar of cap space they can get, and dealing McCutchen would certainly give them more than enough space.

The Phillies previously expressed interest in adding McCutchen before the July trade deadline, and that interest shouldn’t go away in August. McCutchen and his contract should clear waivers easily. He becomes a free agent after this season, so the financial burden won’t be long-term.

McCutchen certainly isn’t the MVP-caliber talent he used to be, but he is still having a respectable season at the plate for the Giants. He is hitting .258 with a .760 OPS (108 OPS+), 10 home runs, and 43 runs batted in.

McCutchen’s numbers this year are about on par with Nick Williams. The two could wind up splitting time in right field. Even if that doesn’t happen, McCutchen is certainly a better bench option than Dylan Cozens or Aaron Altherr at this point.

Jose Bautista

After not signing a contract until the season started, Jose Bautista has hit just enough to put himself into trade discussions. He was another player the Phillies looked at before, but he remained a Met through the deadline.

Since joining the Mets, Bautista has been quite better compared to last year as a Blue Jay. In 58 games, he has a .233/.382/.421 line with six home runs, 12 doubles, and 24 runs batted in. He has played third base, right field, and left field in New York.

Bautista’s high on-base percentage and walk rate could attract the Phillies. He certainly won’t take anyone’s spot in the starting lineup, but he could be a valuable addition to the bench.

Ryan Madson

The availability of Ryan Madson will entirely depend on how close the Nationals are to the division lead at the end of August. They decided not to sell at the deadline at 5.5 games behind the Phillies in the National League East. However, if they fall further in the standings over the next few weeks, they may decide to start selling.

James Shields

James Shields is another player past his prime on this list, but the cream of the crop usually isn’t available in these kinds of trades. In 23 outings this year, Shields has a 4-12 record, 4.53 ERA, 4.62 fielding-independent pitching, and 1.96 strikeout-to-walk ratio. On the brighter side, it’s his best season since 2015.

More from That Balls Outta Here

Shields isn’t the kind of starter you pay big for in terms of prospects, even though the White Sox will try to get as many as they can in a deal. Add in the fact that this is the last guaranteed year of his contract, and you have a textbook rental player. Shields would be a good option if someone in the rotation gets hurt or their performance completely falls off a cliff in the next month.

If nothing else, Shields would provide innings every fifth day at the point of the season where they are in high demand. He could shift to the bullpen in the playoffs and be serviceable there. Shields could even be in the bullpen during September as the Phillies don’t have a true long man there currently.

Next. Phillies trade rumors: Recapping the deals made. dark

There aren’t any top-tier starters on the block this time around, but Shields is one of the better options that could potentially be available.

Home / Phillies Rumors