Phillies: 3 players most likely to be gone by trade deadline

3. Hector Neris

Quality relievers are almost always on the trade block for teams who might be looking to sell and retool for future seasons. Eight-year veteran Hector Neris, who has pitched all of his 355 career relief outings in Philadelphia, fits that description to a tee.

The Dominican Republic native might have a 1-3 record this season, however he has an impressive 1.96 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, and 27-8 strikeouts-to-walks ratio through 24 appearances and 23 innings. Also, Neris has blown just two of his 11 save opportunities, after having blown three of his eight opportunities in 2020.

Only under contract for this season for $5 million and set to enter free agency in the fall, a team could easily take on Neris without much concern of approaching the luxury tax.

Amid a decade of Red October-less Phillies baseball, the right-hander has been one of the more constants on the Phillies roster. Ever since his 2014 debut, Neris has recorded 81 saves, which ranks as the eighth-most in franchise history — behind only Jonathan Papelbon (123), Jose Mesa (112), Steve Bedrosian (103), Mitch Williams (102), Brad Lidge (100), Tug McGraw (94), and Ron Reed (90).

If the Phillies become sellers in the coming weeks, it would be hard to see Neris go and not have him finish his career in red pinstripes, but it would only be for the overall good of the organization in its effort to retool for the long-term.

There is a case to be made, too, that at least one of Neris, Segura, and Herrera could be traded, even if the Phillies are not fully sellers. The hot stove will be interesting to follow, as always.