The annual trade deadline is a flurry of excitement, with all 30 MLB teams wheeling and dealing to put themselves in a better spot for either the present or the future. With the deluge of players reporting to their new clubs, a spate of roster cuts need to be made in order to make room. While the time for trading is over, if the Philadelphia Phillies are shrewd they could still make a few smaller upgrades by scooping up veterans.
Mitch Garver
The Phillies’ current catching crop is less than inspiring, as former best catcher in baseball J.T. Realmuto is far removed from his glory days at the age of 35. Behind Realmuto on the depth chart are Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchán, neither of whom provide any value whatsoever.
Former Silver Slugger Award winner Mitch Garver has fallen on hard times in recent years, and was just cut by the Seattle Mariners after posting an ugly .596 OPS. While that’s pretty rough, it’s over .200 points higher than what Stubbs and Marchán have each done, and if he can get anywhere close to his career .756 mark he’ll be a huge steal.
Notable players DFA’d/Released post deadline:
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) August 5, 2026
RP Matt Strahm
RP Chris Martin
RP Craig Kimbrel
C Mitch Garver
INF Jorge Mateo
OF Rob Refsnyder
OF Stuart Fairchild
OF Everson Pereira
DH Jorge Soler pic.twitter.com/4ePGddQHFS
Rob Refsnyder
Journeyman outfielder Rob Refsnyder does one thing: hit lefties. The 35-year-old has a career .787 OPS against southpaws, and was signed by the Mariners for that express purpose this offseason. Unfortunately, Refsnyder hasn’t done much of anything in between injuries this year with a horrid .140 batting average and .465 OPS.
Trade season may be over, but the Phillies could still make a few additions
Still, he could be a flier worth taking for a Phillies team that has a lefty-leaning lineup that is routinely shut down by even the most uninspiring southpaws. It wouldn’t cost more than the league minimum to scoop Refsnyder up from the scrapheap, and he could help balance things out.
Jorge Soler
A theme is starting to emerge among these roster casualties: underperforming right-handed hitters. Perhaps no one fits this description better than Cuban slugger Jorge Soler. The former World Series hero is in the final season of an ill-fated three-year, $42 million deal, and was finally cut loose by the tragic Los Angeles Angels.
The two-time World Series winner has a rough .203 batting average on the year, but has managed to pop 29 extra-base hits. He’s not much to watch on defense, but if just a smidge of his fearsome power is left in the tank he could be a nice bench piece for the Phils.
Austin Hays
Oh Austin Hays, what should have been. The longtime Baltimore Orioles outfielder was brought in at the 2024 trade deadline in a swap for Seranthony DomÃnguez, but a scary kidney infection kept him from doing anything noteworthy with the Phillies.
Still just 31 years old, the former All-Star landed a one-year pact with the surprisingly successful Chicago White Sox for this season, but has limped to a .576 OPS in just 12 games due to a calf injury. If he’s finally healthy, Hays could have a nice nice redemption arc as a lefty-feasting bench bat in Philadelphia.
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