Philadelphia Phillies fans are excited to watch six of their own take the field at Citizens Bank Park next week for MLB’s annual All-Star Game. The midsummer classic features players from all 30 teams coming together to showcase the best of the best. While the game itself is meaningless, Phils fans may be able to scope out a few prospective trade deadline acquisitions while they watch.
Aroldis Chapman
Future Hall of Fame closer Aroldis Chapman is having a typically (by his standards) dominant season with a 2.36 ERA and 18 saves in 28 games for the Boston Red Sox. The 38-year-old is set to reach free agency at the end of this season, and while the surging Sox aren’t dead in the playoff hunt, they are certainly looking at an uphill climb.
If Boston slides again when the schedule toughens and Chapman is made available, he would instantly become the most desirable late-inning option on the trade market. The Phillies don’t have much prospect capital to offer, but they have enough ammunition for at least one major deal, and a one-two punch of Aroldis Chapman and Jhoan Duran at the back end of the bullpen would certainly be worth it.
Hunter Goodman
The Colorado Rockies are a bad baseball team, but they do boast one of the best catchers in the sport in Hunter Goodman. The two-time All-Star has worked to a spectacular .863 OPS in 85 games this year with a whopping 27 home runs. The 26-year-old would cost a pretty penny in a trade, considering he can be controlled via arbitration for three more seasons after this one, but he’s well worth it.
The All-Star game could showcase a few trade deadline targets for the Phillies
The Phillies currently have J.T. Realmuto taking the majority of reps behind the plate, but despite his status as a franchise legend he’s been pretty rough with a .607 OPS in 64 games. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski inexplicably gave the 35-year-old a three-year, $45 million contract this past offseason, but if he doesn’t pick things up, it may be time to get ruthless and relegate him to part-time duty in favor of someone who can actually hit.
Luis Arraez
San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez is every boomer’s favorite player. He doesn’t hit for power, he’s not the slickest fielder, he doesn’t even steal bases, but he has a mouth-watering batting average. The three-time batting champion has worked to an excellent .327 average over 342 at bats this year and has shown more pop than usual with a .462 slugging percentage.
The Venezuelan has quieted doubters by handling second base decently well after previously being confined to first, and could fit nicely on the Phillies if Dombrowski is willing to get creative. Incumbent keystone occupant Bryson Stott has failed to materialize into a difference-maker after being selected in the first round back in 2019, and could be part of the trade package heading back to the Bay Area. It’s not the most obvious fit, but swapping out Stott for a hitting machine like Arraez would make the Phillies’ lineup a whole lot deeper.
Mike Trout
What would a Phillies trade list be without Mike Trout? The Millville, New Jersey native has been linked to his hometown team for years, and the Los Angeles Angels are heading nowhere in the next few years. Angels interim general manager John Mozeliak poured cold water on the idea of a Trout trade, but teams have dealt “untouchable” players before.
The three-time MVP would fit the Phillies like a glove as a slugging outfielder who hits from the right side. At almost 35 years of age, Trout may not be quite the same transcendent talent he was for most of his career, but his .866 OPS over 74 games this season would place him third among Phillies regulars behind just Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.
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