Phillies should skip starters, complete bullpen instead

Starters on the trade market

So what’s available on the trade market? The Giants are reportedly not close to dealing Madison Bumgarner this offseason, making suitors wait to July when he most likely will be traded. He will be a second-half rental by then, but the Giants will still be looking to get as much as they can for their ace.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are on the verge of a fire sale and with Zach Greinke putting the Phillies on his no-trade list, Robbie Ray is the best option.

Ray had an excellent 2017 All-Star campaign, 15-5 2.89 ERA and 218 strikeouts, but he has failed to ever repeat that success. In his four other seasons he has reached 200 strikeouts just once, never posted more than 10 wins and his lowest ERA was 3.52 in 2015.

Ray’s age and multiple years of cheap team control could make him appealing but with Baseball Reference currently projecting him at 9-6 with a 3.78 ERA and 173 strikeouts, the Phils should be leery on how much they are willing to give up.

So maybe rather than overspend for a starter you like, let’s send some of that “stupid money” to a reliever we love. Now while the Phillies have been connected to about every baseball player but Tim Tebow it is not realistic they sign everyone. Here are five free agent relievers I believe the Phillies should try to at least sign a pair of.