Under the management of Don Mattingly, the Philadelphia Phillies have dug themselves out of the 9-19 hole they created with Rob Thomson at the helm. Since the managerial change, the Phillies own the best record in MLB, playing at a 109-win pace. Once sitting 10.5 games back of Atlanta, Philadelphia has closed the gap in the division and cemented itself in the NL Wild Card picture.
Taking a closer look at the Phillies' season suggests they could be in for a rude awakening. Their run differential remains underwater, and their MLB-best 15-6 record in one-run games suggests they might not be as dominant as their record would indicate. News of Adolis Garcia's injury exacerbated their need for a right-handed bat, while Andrew Painter's demotion left a vacancy in the rotation.
With Dave Dombrowski as the president of baseball operations, the Phillies have often scoured the trade market for one-year rentals to address areas of need. Dombrowski has been content parting with mid-tier prospects to acquire impending free agents such as David Robertson, Noah Syndergaard, Michael Lorenzen, Carlos Estevez, and Harrison Bader.
It appears almost certain that the Phillies will be approaching the trade deadline with glaring holes in the outfield, starting rotation, and bullpen. Uncertainty surrounding Aidan Miller's health and Painter's performance makes a trade involving any of their top prospects highly unlikely. If the Phillies hope to add pieces by the Aug. 3 deadline, the outgoing value will need to come from the margins.
Underrated Phillies prospects that could attract interest at this year's trade deadline
Keaton Anthony, 1B (Org. Rank: 28)
Anthony, who turns 25 on Wednesday, has hit at each stop throughout the minor leagues. His career slash line of .323/.402/.476 across five levels of the minors has established him as one of the most consistent hitters in the Phillies' system. So far in 2026, Anthony has hit .274/.361/.516 in 17 games with the IronPigs. Continuing this trend in Triple-A could make him an interesting trade chip.
Starting to wonder if there will be any interest in Keaton Anthony around the league at the trade deadline.
— Phillies Central (@philscentral_) June 19, 2026
The contact-oriented first baseman has hit the ball hard with more consistency during his second season in Lehigh Valley. Anthony has raised his hard-hit percentage by nearly 10 percent. As a result, his expected slugging percentage ranks in the 91st percentile in Triple-A. This sudden influx of power makes Anthony an intriguing bat from the right-hand side, but the Phillies might not have room.
Anthony is not exactly fleet of foot, limiting him to first base and designated hitter. Dombrowski doesn't sound motivated to move Bryce Harper back to the outfield, even for an established first baseman. This situation makes Anthony expendable in a trade, especially as teams across MLB desperately search for right-handed bats.
Bryan Rincon, SS (Org. Rank: 27)
The 22-year-old shortstop has been the most improved player in the Phillies organization. Rincon had showcased MLB-ready defense, but with minimal production at the plate. In 2025, he batted just .181 for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws and finished the Arizona Fall League 3-for-44. It was beginning to look like Rincon would never hit enough to become an impact player at the next level. He has turned heads in 2026.
Rincon is enjoying a breakout campaign in Double-A, where he's posted an .874 OPS, over 250 points higher than 2025. In 55 games, he's already set new career highs in home runs (10) and extra-base hits (22). Rincon's 50-grade run tool helped him collect 40 stolen bases in 2025. If the switch-hitting shortstop continues his offensive surge, he should skyrocket up organizational prospect rankings.
When the Phillies inked an 11-year deal with Trea Turner, shortstop at Citizens Bank Park was his position to lose. It seems likely that Turner's stellar defense up the middle this past season was nothing more than an outlier. Though Rincon may be the best defensive shortstop in the organization, he remains a few years away from a promotion. The Phillies could capitalize on Rincon's breakout and offer him to interested teams at the deadline.
Alirio Ferrebus, C/1B (Org. Rank: 21)
JT Realmuto's career-worst season in the first year of a three-year contract has naturally raised questions about the future of the catcher position in Philadelphia. Ferrebus, the highest ranked catcher in the system, has drawn the attention of concerned fans looking for an internal solution. Unfortunately, the 20-year-old provides more value to the Phillies in a potential trade.
Ferrebus has a similar profile to former Phillies prospect Eduardo Tait. Both are positionless prospects with serious doubts about their ability to stick behind the plate, but they can absolutely smash the baseball. Ferrebus combines elite bat-to-ball skills with raw power. His 111.7 mph maximum exit velocity ranks in the 92nd percentile among Single-A hitters.
Through 58 games, Ferrebus is slashing .313/.366/.512 with 8 home runs and 19 doubles. If the Phillies don't project him as a catcher long term, they could make him available in trade discussions. While none of these prospects would net a return similar to Tait or Mick Abel, who helped the Phillies acquire Jhoan Duran from the Twins last summer, these are a few names to keep an eye on ahead of August's deadline.
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