The Philadelphia Phillies need to make some moves if they want to make a real run at a World Series victory. The trade deadline is the only avenue to improve a team with an underpowered offense, struggling back end of the rotation and disappointing bullpen. Unfortunately, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski doesn’t have much to trade, and some of the underperforming players on his squad are making it difficult to pick which area to fill first.
How can Dave Dombrowski navigate these tough Phillies trade deadline realities?
Brad Keller
Journeyman right-hander Brad Keller was brought in this last winter on a two-year, $22 million pact to solidify the bridge to elite closer Jhoan Duran. The 30-year-old was coming off of a breakout 2025 campaign in which he fired 69 ⅔ innings of 2.07 ERA ball for the Chicago Cubs. The Phillies may not have expected him to continue that level of dominance, but a lockdown setup man was very much in the cards.
Unfortunately, Keller has been a walking heart attack in 31 games for the Phils, surrendering 29 hits and walking 12 batters en route to a 4.15 ERA. He’s currently on the shelf with right forearm tendinitis, and if he can’t right the ship when he gets back, Dombrowski will need to pony up for a reliable eighth inning arm at the deadline.
Gabriel Rincones Jr.
Well-regarded prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. has been placed in a tough spot. The 25-year-old has mashed minor league pitching throughout his four years in the Phillies’ system, and looks like he can be a solid platoon option in right field over the coming years. Unfortunately, the Phillies can’t wait around to find out what Rincones is right now, as their outfield plans have completely fallen apart. Brandon Marsh has had a banner year in left field, but rookie Justin Crawford has been a net negative up the middle, and free agent addition Adolis García was one of the worst hitters in baseball before undergoing season-ending surgery.
Rincones has been thrust into semi-regular playing time in right field, but has struggled with just three hits over his first 24 plate appearances. There’s no reason to give up on the former third-round pick entirely, but he may not be quite ready for an everyday job in the big leagues, and if that’s the case Dombrowski will need to get creative to fix his outfield mess.
Aaron Nola
It’s been a sad decline for Aaron Nola, as the former ace of the rebuild Phillies has turned into a pumpkin over the past few years. Unfortunately for the Phils, his dropoff didn’t come until after they had signed him to a seven-year, $172 million contract. The 33-year-old has been blitzed for a 5.71 ERA across 75 ⅔ innings this year, continuing the trend that saw him post an ERA over 6.00 in an injury-shortened 2025 campaign.
Nola currently slots fourth in the rotation pecking order behind Cristopher Sánchez, Zack Wheeler and Jesús Luzardo, and ahead of the spot vacated by rookie Andrew Painter. The disappointment that was the Andrew Painter experience already opened up a hole in the back end that will need to be filled via trade, and given Nola’s status as a punching bag, Dombrowski may need to invest even more to find a hurler that can start in the playoffs.
José Alvarado
The Phillies came into the 2026 season ostensibly flush with left-handed relief options. José Alvarado, Tanner Banks and trade acquisition Kyle Backhus were seemingly enough to allow the club to part ways with former All-Star Matt Strahm. Unfortunately, that plan has gone up in flames as Banks was demoted to Triple-A, Backhus has spent a good deal of time on the shelf, and the once-electric Alvarado has been a gas can late in games.
In 27 innings the Venezuelan has been strafed for a 6.33 ERA, giving up a whopping 36 hits and walking 10. In light of the struggles of all three southpaws, it’s a miracle that bargain bin find Tim Mayza has given interim manager Don Mattingly at least one reliable lefty. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Alvarado settles into a groove and takes over left-handed setup duties. However, if he’s not able to do that, Dombrowski may need to bring in a shutdown arm like Aroldis Chapman this summer.
Trea Turner
Trea Turner isn’t going anywhere. The almost-33-year-old shortstop is in just the fourth season of his massive eleven-year, $300 million pact and seems entrenched in the leadoff spot. Unfortunately, the three-time All-Star hasn’t lived up to his enormous price tag this season, limping to a .226/.278/.331 line over 77 games.
Considering the finances around Turner’s presence on the team he’s not going anywhere for a long time, but his dismal performance is forcing the Phillies into an untenable position. If he can’t be the tablesetter at the top of the lineup, they’ll need to find someone else who can. Whether that’s moving Kyle Schwarber up in the order permanently and bringing in outside addition further down, or finding a more traditional leadoff man elsewhere, a trade will need to be made to get another capable bat in the lineup to make up for what Trea Turner was supposed to be for this team.
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