With June coming to an end, the July 31 trade deadline is rapidly approaching. The rumor mill is heating up, and the Philadelphia Phillies are in the center of it.
It’s no secret around Major League Baseball that the Phillies need bullpen help. Despite being in first place in the NL East and owning the third-best record in the majors, the Phillies are tied with the Colorado Rockies for the fifth-worst bullpen ERA in 2025.
The Phillies will be active in the reliever market (subscription required), per The Athletic's Matt Gelb, and there should be plenty of options available as teams begin to fall out of the playoff picture.
Corbin Carroll the latest injury that could turn Diamondbacks into sellers
The Arizona Diamondbacks sit just 2.5 games out of an NL Wild Card spot, but they could be sellers at the trade deadline after being hit with the injury bug this season, particularly in June. After already losing starting pitcher Corbin Burnes and relievers Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk to season-ending injuries earlier this month, catcher Gabriel Moreno was recently placed on the IL with a hand injury.
As if things couldn’t get any worse for the Diamondbacks, outfielder Corbin Carroll joined his teammates on the IL after being hit by a fastball on his left wrist on June 18 against the Toronto Blue Jays. It was later revealed that the 2023 All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year suffered a chip fracture, per MLB.com's Casey Drottar, likely keeping him out for a few weeks.
Due to the recent injury trend, the Diamondbacks could be prompted to become sellers at the deadline. They play in a tough NL West division and will likely lose some ground in the Wild Card race with key players missing.
Phillies should take note of a pair of relievers on expiring contracts
Two veteran relievers could be of interest to the Phillies if the Diamondbacks decide to take calls on their players. Right-hander Shelby Miller and left-hander Jalen Beeks are both on expiring contracts, and either one could be an affordable but impactful addition to the Phillies’ bullpen.
Miller is a former starter turned reliever and is enjoying a dominant season in 2025. The 34-year-old owns a 1.97 ERA with eight holds, nine saves and 35 strikeouts in 32 innings.
Miller still has some life to his fastball, and he’s throwing strikes in the back end of the Diamondbacks’ bullpen. Opponents are hitting .191 against him, the third-lowest average of his 13-year career.
Like Miller, Beeks is enjoying a dominant year in the back end of the Diamondbacks’ bullpen. The 31-year-old also has some major league starting pitching experience, but he’s been solely used as a reliever this year and last.
Beeks is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA, 11 holds and one save in 37 innings in 2025. Although not overpowering, opponents are hitting a career-low .191 against the southpaw. Beeks has been primarily used in the seventh and eighth innings this season.