4 expendable prospects Phillies can move at trade deadline for bullpen help

As the Philadelphia Phillies head into the summer part of their schedule, they have built up a 37-27 record to challenge for the National League East division title once again. Their offense and starting pitching had been firing on all cylinders for the most part. However, one area that remains a glaring weakness is their bullpen. 

The Phillies' relief corps currently ranks 25th in the league in ERA (4.58), 23rd in WHIP (1.39) and 27th in opponent batting average (.262). To make matters worse, one of their best relievers this season, José Alvarado, has been lost for 80 games due to a PED suspension. As a result, the Phillies’ primary need heading towards the trade deadline will no doubt include the pursuit of bullpen help.

To do so, Philadelphia will need to give up some solid assets to get back any reliever of quality. With a blossoming farm system, which Phillies prospects could be used at the trade deadline to get a deal or two done?

Phillies should use these prospects for bullpen help at the trade deadline

Gabriel Rincones Jr., OF

Taken in the third round by the Phillies in the 2022 MLB Draft, Gabriel Rincones Jr. has managed to go from Single-A to Triple-A in a span of less than three years. The Phillies' No. 10 MLB Pipeline prospect had demonstrated his power and speed in the process, averaging double-digit home runs and 20+ stolen bases each season while batting close to .240.

After bursting onto the scene early in spring training, Rincones has struggled to a .219 batting average this season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. With power to spare, he has managed to stay productive, with a .731 OPS, seven home runs, nine doubles and 31 RBIs in 53 games.

With a current outfield logjam in Philadelphia, and with top outfield prospect Justin Crawford likely ahead of him in the pecking order, Rincones will be in tough to land a role with the big league club in the near future. As a result, the Phillies should use him as a valuable trade chip instead to address their needs.

Otto Kemp, INF

Previously unranked among the Phillies top prospects over the past few seasons, infielder Otto Kemp suddenly rocketed into the Phillies' MLB Pipeline Top 30 after a phenomenal start to his 2025 campaign. Ranked No. 24, Kemp has compiled a stellar .313 batting average and 1.010 OPS in 58 games for Lehigh Valley, which are his best full-season marks since turning pro in 2022.

In addition, his 14 home runs and 55 RBIs are already approaching his career highs of 16 home runs and 66 RBIs set last year. He's on pace to take almost less than half the number of games to accomplish it.

Whether Kemp’s impressive performance so far is just a flash in the pan or the real deal is still up for debate. But the Phillies can fully take advantage while his value is at its absolute highest now. That way, they can use him as trade bait instead of a higher ranked top prospect to land a solid piece to boost their bullpen.

Carson DeMartini, INF

Selected last year in the fourth round of the 2024 MLB Draft, Phillies No. 15 prospect Carson DeMartini has certainly impressed during his short time in the organization. Last season, DeMartini batted a stellar .315 with an .863 OPS, along with 18 runs scored, two home runs, nine RBIs and eight stolen bases in just 24 games with Single-A Clearwater following the draft.

This year, the young 22-year-old infielder has maintained his success by amassing a solid .264 average and .810 OPS with 28 runs scored, six home runs, 26 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in just 50 games with High-A Jersey Shore.

Fellow top prospect Aroon Escobar is having an even bigger breakout season and Aidan Miller is as close to untouchable as a prospect can be. So DeMartini becomes the main fish that the Phillies should dangle at the trade deadline for bullpen help for prospective teams looking for an infielder with a sneaky high ceiling.

Mick Abel, RHP

Finally, it might be surprising to find No. 8 prospect Mick Abel on this list. Phillies fans will remember his brilliant MLB debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates, in which he shut them out over six innings with nine strikeouts for his first major league win. He followed that up with another strong outing in Toronto this week, per NBC Sports Philadelphia's Corey Seidman.

Abel has also been dominant with Lehigh Valley, posting a 6-2 record with a 2.21 ERA and 67 strikeouts in just 57 innings pitched over 10 starts. However, Abel is coming off the worst season of his professional baseball career in 2024 in which he compiled a dismal 3-12 record with a 6.46 ERA and 1.81 WHIP over 24 starts in Triple-A.

The Phillies should take advantage of his resurgence to get full value in any trade deal. If Philadelphia is looking to land potential closers like Ryan Helsley or Kyle Finnegan at the deadline, Abel would likely be the only one among the prospects on this list that would help move the needle to get it done.

More Phillies News and Rumors from That Ball's Outta Here