3 Phillies trade rumors to squelch before they gain any traction
The 2023 season has been a strange one for the Philadelphia Phillies. Yet another rough start to the season has Philadelphia sitting at 38-36, third in the NL East and outside of the Wild Card picture as well.
While we've learned to not count this Phillies team out, a 10-game deficit in the division is going to be really hard to overcome, especially when the team they're chasing, the Braves, are one of the best teams in baseball. The Wild Card, however, even with them on the outside looking in right now, is very much in play.
With that in mind, the Phillies will be buyers once again at the end of July barring an epic collapse. They'll be looking to do whatever it takes to get back to the Fall Classic and win it this time. This direction will make the MLB rumor mill buzz. Some mock proposals will be realistic, while others can be shut down pretty early.
1) Phillies trade rumor to squelch: Aaron Nola being traded anywhere
Sure, if the Phillies fall out of playoff contention Aaron Nola could be available at the trade deadline. I just can't see that happening. The Phillies are clicking right now, winners of seven of ten, and right in the postseason picture.
As long as the Phillies are in postseason contention, Aaron Nola isn't going anywhere. I don't care that he's an impending free agent, and I don't care that he's having a down year. He's still the second-best starting pitcher on this staff and will be in Philadelphia for the entirety of this season. His future with the franchise is obviously much more bleak.
Nola's year has not gone the way anyone imagined. After finishing fourth in the NL Cy Young balloting last season, the right-hander has a 4.38 ERA through 16 starts this season. He's still throwing a ton of innings, but they've been nowhere near as quality as we're accustomed to seeing from this former ace.
Hopefully the six scoreless innings he was able to deliver against the Braves is the beginning of a turnaround for Nola. The Phillies obviously need him to be himself for the team to get where they want to go.
With a schedule that does not appear to be very daunting in July, it's hard to see the Phillies falling to a place in the standings where they'd feel like they have to trade a guy like Nola. As long as they're remotely close to a postseason spot, it's a lot easier to see the Phillies keeping him and going for it than it is seeing them give up with all of the talent that's on this roster.
2) Phillies trade rumor to squelch: Paul Goldschmidt fixing the first base issues
A Paul Goldschmidt trade would be absolutely unbelievable. We know what this offense is capable of when healthy as is. If the Phillies can add the reigning NL MVP to the fold, how insane would that be?
There're two issues with a potential Goldschmidt trade. One, the Cardinals have to actually make him available. Things haven't gone swimmingly in St. Louis as they're 31-44, but they're only nine games back in what's a horrific NL Central. With the talent the Cardinals have, they can realistically think they can make a run if they pick up three or four games before the deadline.
Another reason the Cardinals might not move him is because Goldschmidt has another year on his deal. They can simply retool and try to win next season. The Cardinals are a team that's virtually never out of it.
The second issue I have with a potential Goldschmidt trade is the potential cost for a player who isn't exactly a requirement. Sure, Goldschmidt would be really cool, and first base can be upgraded with no Rhys Hoskins, but do they really need the reigning NL MVP more than other players?
A trade for Goldschmidt likely wouldn't involve Andrew Painter, but I'd have to assume at least one of Mick Abel or Griff McGarry would be headed to St. Louis in the deal. While Philadelphia should be fine dealing one of those guys to improve at the deadline, shouldn't it be for a bigger hole?
This team is starting Christopher Sanchez right now every fifth day. Taijuan Walker finally picking it up lessens the need for the Phillies to acquire multiple starters, but I'd say acquiring another front-line guy would be at the top of the priority list for Dave Dombrowski.
Goldschmidt's uncertain availability combined with the fact that the Phillies have greater needs make this feel like a rumor to squelch.
3) Phillies trade rumor to squelch: Mike Trout will not be making a homecoming
A deal that would be even cooler than Paul Goldschmidt would be Mike Trout coming home. The die-hard Eagles fan seems to always be linked to the Phillies in the event that the Angels would ever trade him. While it's not unreasonable to think it could happen sometime in Trout's career, it's not happening now.
First of all, the Angels won't be sellers. The Angels are currently six games over .500 and 0.5 games outside of the third Wild Card spot in the AL. GM Perry Minasian has said that it's pretty self-explanatory whether Shohei Ohtani will be available at the deadline. If Ohtani isn't available, there's no way Trout will be.
Second of all, that contract is pretty hard for even a team like the Phillies to swallow. Trout will be making $35.45 million annually through the 2030 season. Even with how awesome Mike Trout is, that's steep on top of the long-term money that the Phillies have committed to a whole slew of players.
The contract and the fact that he's having a down season would make Trout an easier player to acquire, but it's just not happening yet. The Angels won't want it, and I'm not fully convinced the Phillies would do whatever it takes to make it happen.
A fun story that might have a fairytale ending, but we'll have to wait a little longer to find out.
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