3 Phillies prospects to keep at all costs, 2 to gamble with in trade deadline talks

The Philadelphia Phillies have a few weaknesses to shore up before the July 31 trade deadline. If the team wants to win a World Series championship in 2025, a significant addition to the bullpen is vital, and an upgrade in the outfield could help.

There’s a chance that the Phillies could use major league talent such as Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm or Johan Rojas to facilitate a trade, but prospects are often the bread and butter of these deals. The Phillies’ farm system is loaded with talent at the top, and trading away one or two of those prospects would likely need to happen to acquire a player of significance at the deadline.

3 Phillies prospects to keep at all costs at trade deadline

Andrew Painter, RHP

Andrew Painter is the Phillies’ No. 1 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Although the right-hander’s first year back after Tommy John surgery hasn’t gone to plan, his most recent start at Triple-A could be a sign of good things to come.

Painter had allowed 21 hits and 12 earned runs, including five home runs, in his previous three starts before his most recent outing on July 24. The 22-year-old pitched a season-high six innings and allowed just one hit. Unfortunately, that one hit was a two-run home run.

Despite owning a 3-3 record with a 4.82 ERA through 13 starts at Triple-A, the Phillies should make Painter untouchable in any trade talks at the deadline. He’s a young pitcher who’s uber talented and has a fastball that can reach 100 mph.

Justin Crawford, OF

All Justin Crawford has done is hit since the Phillies selected him 17th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft. The organization’s No. 3 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has continued his excellent offensive display in 2025 during his first full season at Triple-A.

Crawford is batting .327 with a .409 on-base percentage, 18 doubles, three triples and 31 RBIs in 81 games with the IronPigs. He has just three home runs, but as a 21-year-old, his power is still developing.

Phillies fans have been calling for the team to promote Crawford due to the lack of outfield production this season. Despite his success, the organization doesn’t want to call him up unless there’s a spot for him to play nearly every day (subscription required), per Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, which isn’t the case with Marsh, Rojas and Max Kepler on the 26-man roster.

Crawford is knocking on the door of the big leagues, and his debut shouldn’t be with any other team than the Phillies.

Eduardo Tait, C

Like Crawford, Eduardo Tait has been a significant offensive contributor since joining the Phillies organization in 2023. The young catcher has 52 doubles, 25 home runs, 164 RBIs and owns a .287 batting average through 204 career games.

Tait played 95 games at the rookie ball level before being promoted to Single-A during the 2024 season. Although his batting average has dipped since his promotion, Tait was named to the 2025 Futures Game, along with Painter, and was recently elevated to High-A.

In six games at High-A, Tait owns a .273 batting average with three doubles and four RBIs. He has only struck out once in 22 at-bats.

The Phillies don’t have reliable depth behind J.T. Realmuto, who’s in the final year of his contract at 34 years old. Tait has a long way to go in his development, both offensively and defensively, until he’ll be ready to contribute at the big league level, but he has the tools to be the Phillies’ long-term solution at catcher.

2 Phillies prospects to gamble with at trade deadline

Mick Abel, RHP

Mick Abel has been on a rollercoaster over the last two years. He owned a 3-12 record with a 6.46 ERA in 24 starts during his first full season at Triple-A last year, and even had a stint on the development list.

The former first-round pick seemed to be heading toward bust territory, but the right-hander saved his career in 2025. Abel was 5-2 with a 2.53 ERA and 51 strikeouts in eight starts with the IronPigs before making his major league debut with the Phillies on May 18.

Abel went six scoreless innings and picked up the win against Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates. His nine strikeouts tied Curt Simmons’ record set in 1947 for the most strikeouts in a major league debut by a Phillies pitcher since at least 1901.

Abel was sent down after his debut and made two starts at Triple-A before being recalled to start for the Phillies on June 4 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Unfortunately, his time with the big league club ended after allowing 13 earned runs, including seven home runs, and nine walks in 13 2/3 innings.

Abel pitched well in his first two starts at Triple-A following his second demotion. The 23-year-old tossed 12 scoreless innings and allowed just three hits. However, he allowed seven hits, three walks and five earned runs in his most recent start on July 25.

The Phillies’ starting rotation is elite, and with Painter nearing his MLB debut, Abel is expendable in trade deadline talks.

Aidan Miller, SS

Aidan Miller, the Phillies’ No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, hasn’t adjusted to the Double-A level. After being drafted 27th overall in 2023 and rising to Double-A by the end of the 2024 season, Miller’s offense has taken a drastic hit.

Miller owned a .190 batting average with no extra-base hits in 21 at-bats after his late-season promotion to Double-A last year. Through 78 games with the Fightin Phils in 2025, the shortstop is slashing .218/.340/.349 with a .689 OPS, 20 extra-base hits and 23 RBIs. The 21-year-old’s career batting average is down to .248 through 200 games.

Alarmingly, Miller’s .943 fielding percentage in 2025 is below average, and his .937 career fielding percentage at shortstop is even worse. One of the few aspects of his game that has gone well for him this year is his speed on the base paths, with 37 stolen bases.

Trea Turner is under contract through 2033, and with the emergence of Otto Kemp this year, the Phillies could benefit from selling high on a prospect like Miller.

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