As the trade deadline approaches in the coming days, the Philadelphia Phillies will be making moves to help bolster the lineup as they look to lock down a playoff spot and potentially a division title in the final two months of the season. Whether it will be major or minor trade transactions, the Phillies will aim to add the missing pieces to complete their roster heading into the stretch run.
With additions will come subtractions, as the Phillies will have some roster casualties as a fallout of such moves. However, there are a few key players that will likely survive past the trade deadline despite their current struggles. Here, we will take a look at three Phillies players who will maintain their spot with the team, but in reality, shouldn’t.
3 Phillies who will survive beyond the trade deadline despite their struggles
Johan Rojas, OF
The Phillies have been patiently waiting for Johan Rojas and his game to round into form over the past few seasons. After having a solid debut with Philadelphia midway through the 2023 season, Rojas has continued to struggle primarily with his bat over the past two years, leaving a lot to be desired.
In 2024, he batted .243 with a .601 OPS, along with 47 runs scored, 12 doubles, three home runs and 32 RBIs in 120 games played. This season, Rojas has even regressed a little, posting a dismal .227 average and .580 OPS, with just 22 runs scored, three doubles, one home run and 16 RBIs in 67 games.
With Brandon Marsh picking up his game after a disastrous start to 2025, it has taken away more playing time from Rojas as a result. However, with the past offseason free agent signee Max Kepler also struggling mightily, along with the speed and solid defense that Rojas has always provided the Phillies, the young 24-year-old will likely survive the trade deadline and remain as the team’s fourth outfielder down the stretch.
Joe Ross, RHP
As one of the key offseason signings to bolster the bullpen, veteran Joe Ross has certainly been a big disappointment so far in his tenure with the Phillies. Despite having a solid 4.28 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in his eight-year MLB career, Ross has struggled to a 5.28 ERA with two blown saves, along with a 1.51 WHIP, while giving up 26 earned runs including eight home runs with just 34 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings pitched. In fact, the 32-year-old right-hander hasn’t gone more than two appearances without giving up a run since the beginning of May.
However, with the ability to act as a swingman and pitch as both a reliever and a starter for the team, Ross remains a valuable piece for the Phillies. After all, he did come off a solid 2024 campaign with the Milwaukee Brewers in which he compiled a tidy 3.77 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 74 innings of work over 25 appearances that included 10 starts. As a result, the Phillies will hope that Ross can recapture some of that dominant form just in time for the playoff run.
Jordan Romano, RHP
Finally, we have one of the Phillies’ most high-risk, high-reward acquisitions in the signing of former Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano. When Philadelphia lost both high-leverage, closer-material relievers Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman this past offseason, they sincerely looked to Romano to help fill some of that void. After all, the 32-year-old reliever is a two-time All-Star with a career 3.44 ERA while recording a whopping 322 strikeouts in just 264 innings pitched. When Romano endured an uncharacteristic 2024 campaign in which he posted an abysmal 6.59 ERA and 1.46 WHIP, many believed that it was due to the injuries woes that he faced throughout that season.
Unfortunately, it appears as though now that the regression may actually indeed be real. Despite having returned to full health this season with the Phillies, the seven-year veteran right-hander has underperformed immensely so far in 2025. Romano has amassed a 1-4 record with a woeful 6.88 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, giving up a whopping 27 earned runs including six home runs in just 35 1/3 innings over 39 relief appearances.
However, despite his struggles, the Phillies likely won’t want to admit that they had lost the de-facto closer swap with the Blue Jays, who now has Hoffman locking down key games in their recent surge up the standings. Therefore, Philadelphia will remain patient for now and allow the leash for Romano to run beyond the trade deadline to give him a chance to right the ship.