Major League Baseball's trade deadline is a little over 24 hours away. The Philadelphia Phillies have yet to make a move. Something has to give soon. At least that's what fans are hoping for.
With the hot stove heating up and trades beginning to take place around the league, the Phillies front office has some definite weaknesses to address before the 6 p.m. ET deadline passes on Thursday.
We know that Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is focused on acquiring a top bullpen arm. The Athletic's Matt Gelb reaffirmed the team's stance on Wednesday morning, telling us that "the bullpen is still the priority" (subscription required), according to his major league sources.
The top relievers on the market include the St. Louis Cardinals Ryan Helsley, the Pittsburgh Pirates' David Bednar and the Minnesota Twins' Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax. The Phillies have been connected to all of those names. Whether they'll want to pony up the prospects for any of them remains to be seen.
The other position the front office has been poking around at this deadline is the outfield.
Phillies Trade Deadline Rumors: Frontrunner named in chase for Luis Robert Jr.
The Phillies are known to have interest in Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. The White Sox are still asking a high price for the talented 27-year-old, who has two years of $20 million team options remaining on his contract.
While the Phillies are in the mix for the right-handed hitting Robert, it's actually the New York Mets who have reportedly emerged as the frontrunner, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.
"According to sources, the Mets have been one of the more aggressive teams in their pursuit of Robert, with one source taking it to another level by calling New York 'the frontrunner.' The Padres and Phillies are among the other teams said to have interest in Robert."
The 2022 All-Star is having his second consecutive down year at the plate but has turned things around since the calendar flipped to July. He's slashing .319/.418/.532 with three home runs, 11 RBIs and four steals since July 1. Robert would also bring the Phillies Gold Glove defense in center field — if they can overtake the rival Mets to win the trade deadline sweepstakes.
Phillies a 'primary team' in race for Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez one day ahead of trade deadline
One of the other top trade deadline targets is Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez, whose market is beginning to take shape on Wednesday, per Feinsand. The Phillies have previously been linked to the 34-year-old slugger. Now Feinsand says that they're one of the primary teams in pursuit of Suárez.
"The market for Eugenio Suárez is beginning to shape up with less than 30 hours until the Trade Deadline," Feinsand posted on Wednesday afternoon. "Per sources, the Mariners, Cubs, Tigers and Phillies are considered the primary teams in the race for the All-Star third baseman."
The market for Eugenio Suárez is beginning to shape up with less than 30 hours until the Trade Deadline. Per sources, the Mariners, Cubs, Tigers and Phillies are considered the primary teams in the race for the All-Star third baseman.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 30, 2025
A pending free agent, he would be a rental for Dombrowski and the Phillies but would no doubt add some right-handed power to the lineup. He's slashing .248/.321/.577 in 105 games this season, with 36 homers and 87 RBIs.
How much Dombrowski would be willing to shell out for a two-month rental is another matter. Bringing Suárez to Philly would cause a defensive headache, with both Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber possible candidates to move into an outfield role. If he continues mashing like he has been this season, the headache will be worth it.