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

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.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 10: Jean Segura #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies attempts to turn a double play against Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on August 10, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 5-0. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 10: Jean Segura #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies attempts to turn a double play against Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park on August 10, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Dodgers defeated the Phillies 5-0. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Phillies trade chip: INF Jean Segura

When Jean Segura wiped his Instagram of all Phillies content at the beginning of the offseason, fans speculated that he’d been traded. Instead, it appears he was simply giving his socials a makeover, as he remains with the team.

The Phillies acquired Segura from the Seattle Mariners ahead of the 2019 season, less than two years after they signed him to a five-year extension in 2017.

Over three seasons and 329 games in Philadelphia, Segura has hit .282/.337/.427 with a .763 OPS. He’s accumulated 69 doubles, 183 runs scored, and 143 RBI over his Phillies tenure, and his 14 home runs in 2021 were the second-most of any season in his 10-year career.

With the unstable state of the infield around Segura (Alec Bohm, Didi Gregorius), it’s hard to see the Phillies trading him before the season begins. However, if the Phillies look like losers in July, they won’t have a hard time finding a new home for Segura. In return, they could infuse their barren farm system with new prospects.

Segura’s contract includes a club option for 2023, so he wouldn’t have to be a short-term rental, making him an even more appealing trade target for contending teams. He does have a full no-trade clause, but he’s already waived that once before, when the Mariners wanted to bring him here.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 26: Corey Knebel #46 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 26, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 26: Corey Knebel #46 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 26, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Phillies trade chip: RHP Corey Knebel

Ahead of the lockout, the Phillies signed Corey Knebel to a one-year deal with a hefty $10M price tag.

After missing the entire 2019 season recovering from Tommy John, Knebel returned to the mound in 2020, but he hasn’t pitched a full season since before his surgery. Knebel made 27 appearances for the Dodgers in 2021 but missed May, June, and July in their entirety due to a right lat strain. Ergo, a risky signing for the Phillies.

The 2021 Phillies bullpen tied the MLB record by blowing 34 saves, and it’s hard to see Knebel almost singlehandedly fixing that big of a mess.

If Knebel isn’t enough to fix the bullpen, you really can’t blame him, but you can trade him! If he’s having a solid season, the Phillies can flip him to a contender like they’re on an HGTV show about remodeling houses.

Sep 8, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (56) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 8, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (56) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Phillies trade chip: RHP Zach Eflin

Being one of the prospects acquired in exchange for all-time franchise hits leader Jimmy Rollins is a lot of pressure, especially on top of, you know, being a major-league pitcher.

The Phillies acquired Zach Eflin after the 2014 season, and he debuted in June 2016. Over the last three seasons, Eflin has a 4.12 ERA over 61 games, including 56 starts, three games finished, and three complete games.

The 28-year-old righty will become a free agent for the first time after the 2022 season, and it’s hard to see the Phillies bringing him back. After being one of the Phillies’ most promising prospects (in an era when that actually meant something), numerous injuries and surgeries have kept him from truly thriving at the big-league level. The last thing the Phillies need is a hefty contract for an oft-injured player on their already-overblown payroll.

It’ll also be interesting to see how Eflin does now that Andrew Knapp is no longer with the team. Despite being the Phillies’ backup catcher to J.T. Realmuto, Knapp was Eflin’s preferred catcher.

Sep 12, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) reacts after allowing a three run home run against the Colorado Rockies during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 12, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) reacts after allowing a three run home run against the Colorado Rockies during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

Aaron Nola

Last, but certainly not least, Aaron Nola.

The rare homegrown player in this organization, Nola was their first-round pick in 2014, and has spent his entire professional career with the Phillies. He’s had some great times here, including an All-Star season in 2018 and two years of receiving NL Cy Young votes.

However, Nola is coming off a rough season, replete with poor pitching and controversial comments about everything from COVID vaccines to the “narrative” surrounding said pitching struggles. Whereas he pitched 200+ innings in 2018 and 2019, he finished the 2021 season with 180 2/3 innings of work, only pitching 6+ innings in 14 of 32 starts.

The righty’s four-year deal runs through 2022 and includes a club option for 2023. The Phillies haven’t traded him in part because they’re hoping he can bounce back, and also because his trade value is lower after how he pitched last season.

Nola is only 28 years old, so there’s time for him to improve. The question is, can he do so in Philadelphia?

Related Story. 10 Excellent and terrible centerfield options for the Phillies. light

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