That Balls Outta Here
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Ranking the Phillies’ biggest trade needs this season

By Seth Humeniuk

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 10: Mike Minor #23 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of a Major League Baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts on June 10, 2019. (Staff Photo By Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 10: Mike Minor #23 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the third inning of a Major League Baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts on June 10, 2019. (Staff Photo By Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – June 05: Alex Colome #48 of the Chicago White Sox throws to a Washington Nationals batter in the ninth inning at Nationals Park on June 05, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

The Phillies have been decimated by injuries, and have needs at multiple positions. What do they need most at the trade deadline?

The trade deadline may be almost two months away still, but the Phillies have some pressing needs that should be addressed sooner rather than later. The injury bug has bit the Phils hard over the past month, or so as, if my math is correct, they’ve had 15 players spend time on the disabl– I mean injured list (still not used to calling it that). They’ve also had some players who haven’t lived up to expectations, or have been inconsistent in their performance. Let’s rank the Phillies trade needs in order from greatest need to least.

Bullpen Depth

The Phillies bullpen has been a strength of the team, but they’re dropping like flies. They are currently missing (deep breath): Edubray Ramos, Adam Morgan, Pat Neshek, Seranthony Dominguez, Victor Arano, David Robertson, and Tommy Hunter. For those of you scoring at home, that’s a whopping SEVEN bullpen arms out of commission.

Ramos is expected to be back in a week or so, but Robertson is expected back in mid-July, Arano may not be back until August and there’s a good chance Dominguez will need Tommy John surgery. By the time the trade deadline rolls around, there’s a good chance this bullpen will be close to full strength, but right now they’re running on fumes and minor league arms.

The Phillies missed out on Craig Kimbrel, but he would have been a great pickup. The Phils did recently add Fernando Salas, but he’s only one guy. Alex Colome and Will Smith (who is neither the actor nor the guy who walked off on the Phillies last week) are both excellent closers on bad teams and could be available for trade. Good bullpen arms are always readily available at the trade deadline, and if the Phillies decide to go that route, they should have no problem finding one.

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