3 Phillies trade deadline targets who are only getting more expensive

It's almost crunch time for the Philadelphia Phillies' front office. While the players still have roughly two months to determine how their 2025 regular season will be remembered, the executive suite has until next Thursday, July 31, at 6:00 p.m. ET to do its job of winning the trade deadline.

Even though the MLB trade deadline rumor mill has been slow to develop this season, thanks to so many teams still close to or competing for a playoff spot, the Phillies have been mentioned in the same breath as some potentially big deadline pieces around the league.

The only problem is that some of these trade targets have been increasing their trade stock recently, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Here are four targets who are only getting more expensive with the deadline looming around the corner.

3 possible Phillies deadline targets who have been improving their trade value

Jhoan Duran, MIN, RHP

Minnesota Twins right-hander Jhoan Duran is already a popular trade target among contenders, despite not being on an expiring deal, per Feinsand. The Phillies have already been scouting Duran and his teammate Griffin Jax.

"The Twins aren’t in a must-trade situation with Duran, who is under club control through 2027," Says Feinsand. "But given the price contenders are typically willing to pay for controllable relievers of his caliber, Minnesota might look to move Duran and/or Griffin Jax to address other areas of need."

The Twins' closer has a stunning 1.94 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings and finally allowed his first home run of the season this week. Duran just went on an 11-game run pitching to a 1.59 ERA. He has 15 saves in 17 tries this season for the 49-53 Twins.

David Bednar, PIT, RHP

Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar has a 2.31 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 35 innings. Despite pitching for the Pirates, the right-hander has picked up 15 saves, going a perfect 15-for-15 in save opportunities on the season.

After a brief trip to Triple-A early in the season to get himself right, the 30-year-old Bednar has a 1.33 ERA since May 6 and hasn't allowed an earned run since May 23. The Phillies were reportedly talking to the Pirates about Bednar (and fellow bullpen standout Dennis Santana) at the beginning of July, and he has continued upping his trade value since then.

Trading for Bednar seems like a move Dombrowski would jump at the chance to make, because as Feinsand says, "... given that he’s under control for one more year, an acquiring team would be getting his services for two postseason runs."

Adolis García, TEX, OF

If the Texas Rangers wind up selling at the trade deadline, outfielder Adolis García continues to be connected to the Phillies by ESPN. The 32-year-old isn't the same hitter he was a couple of years ago but has been improving his trade value recently.

García has just a .228 batting average and .669 OPS on the season, but since June 30, he is hitting .250 with a .752 OPS and has five of his 14 home runs on the season over that stretch. He has an above-average average exit velocity on the year at 92.7 mph (92nd percentile), while also being one of the unluckiest hitters in the majors with a .289 wOBA compared to a .328 xwOBA.

Per Feinsand, "... if the Rangers do sell, they’ll likely have some teams calling about García, who is earning $10.5 million this season and is arbitration-eligible for one more year."

García is an above-average outfielder (14 DRS, 2 OAA) and has played in right and center. The one caveat that might keep the Phillies away is that despite being a right-handed batter, he has struggled to just a .196 average against left-handed pitching this season.

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