Less than two weeks remain until the July 30 MLB trade deadline, and Philadelphia Phillies trade rumors are swirling.
There seems to be a new name mentioned every day, either from an insider suggesting a possible target or confirming that they've heard the Phillies are watching or looking in on a certain player. And that's not to mention all the random possible trade deadline targets thrown out into the void of social media by various outlets far and wide.
While we still don't know with 100 percent certainty what Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and general manager Sam Fuld are up to, we know they are looking for outfielders. Plus, there are still areas of need for this Phillies team despite having the best record in baseball.
2 Phillies trade rumors we hope come true, 1 we hope doesn’t happen
The outfield continues to be an ongoing problem, with production from Phillies outfielders falling well into the bottom of the league this season, with a 28th-ranked .650 OPS and 83 wRC+ after the first half. That puts them around teams like the Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox — not exactly the outfield offenses you want to be associated with.
The bullpen may not be a dire need like the outfield, but stockpiling proven, high-leverage arms for a deep playoff run is always a good idea — especially after what we witnessed last fall. The Phillies are reportedly seeking bullpen depth (subscription required), per The Athletic. There have been reports that the front office has been scouting and talking to teams about potential bullpen additions. Adding another dependable back-end relief arm to pitch alongside All-Star Jeff Hoffman and José Alvarado in the late innings won't hurt.
So, with the outfield a primary focus, and, to a lesser extent the bullpen, let's jump into some of the trade rumors and see which ones we think the Phillies should pursue and pick one that we hope doesn't happen.