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5 Major-league trade chips the Phillies can deal in 2022

By Gabrielle Starr

Sep 29, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) walks to the dugout before their game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) walks to the dugout before their game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Which players can the Phillies trade in 2022?

Will the Philadelphia Phillies make a blockbuster break-the-internet trade when the MLB lockout ends?

Anything is possible.

The Phillies need a lot of upgrades, especially in the outfield and bullpen, but don’t have nearly enough space under the luxury tax threshold to go on a shopping spree. As decade-long losers, though, they also don’t exactly have a lot to trade. You can see the conundrum.

As always, for the sake of these proposals, we have to ignore the fact that the Phillies could and should absolutely exceed the luxury tax threshold. That said, it’s hard to gauge where the Phillies stand heading into 2022. They attempted to rebuild in the mid-2010s, and it failed dismally. Now, they have a new president of baseball operations in Dave Dombrowski, but it’s unclear if they need to rebuild again under his leadership or if they can build on what they currently have.

For that reason, 2022 feels like a litmus test season. If the Phillies are doing well before the trade deadline, they should be buyers. If not, sell everything that isn’t nailed down (Bryce Harper), and begin again.

To that end, here are five major-league players they could trade this year…

Phillies trade chip: Kyle Gibson

Kyle Gibson was having a great season in Texas before the Rangers traded him to the Phillies. It wasn’t the first time a pitcher fell apart in Philadelphia; the Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree acquisitions come to mind.

While Gibson finished his season with a respectable 3.71 ERA, the contrast between his 2.87 ERA over 19 starts in Texas and his 5.09 ERA over 12 games in Philadelphia is stark.

The problem with the Phillies starting rotation is that it’s not strong enough to withstand losing Gibson, but isn’t exactly better with him. It’s a quantity over quality situation.

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