3 Phillies who could be traded if the team falls out of the playoff race
The Philadelphia Phillies have had a nightmare beginning to their 2023 campaign. One that I don’t think even the most “Negadelphia” sports fans would conjure up in their imagination. It’s been the talk of all baseball conversations in the greater Philadelphia area. Rightfully so, especially after the success, triumphs, moments, and memories made during an improbable World Series run last year.
The Phillies are in the same dull, bleak position they were in last June. The month that spawned enough lousy play to get Joe Girardi fired and Rob Thomson hired. This time there’s no firing or scapegoat card to play. It’s time for the club to put up or shut up. In Craig Kimbrel, Aaron Nola, and Seranthony Dominguez, the Phillies have three players that could get traded if this team falls too far out of the playoff race.
Phillies trade candidate No. 1: closer Craig Kimbrel
Trade prospect number one for contenders is reliever Craig Kimbrel. As documented in the spring, Kimbrel has mainly been a closer but has recent experience in high-leverage spots in different innings. Kimbrel is an obvious but clear target for any team looking to contend in the postseason. Kimbrel is in his age-35 season on a one-year contract. Any team making the move for him would most likely be acquiring him as a rental.
As far as Kimbrel the pitcher goes, he is performing closer to being a serviceable reliever than his shutdown closer abilities. His numbers will sort of tell contenders to stay away. Kimbrel as of this writing has appeared in ten games, posted an 8.00 ERA, a 2-1 record, and 4 for 4 on save opportunities in nine innings pitched. The one fact about Kimbrel that is concerning is that out of the seven hits he’s allowed four of them have been home runs.
Despite those numbers, Kimbrel has looked revived in certain aspects. His fastball has somewhat returned to the form of his prime with a high velocity, movement, and break on the pitch. The fastball being reinvigorated makes his funky slider that drops off the table harder to hit. It would make sense for the Phillies to take what they can get in a trade for an expiring contract who is a reliever with closer experience in the postseason.
Phillies trade candidate No. 2: SP Aaron Nola
The second potential Phillie that might be moved is starting pitcher Aaron Nola. The homegrown pitcher out of LSU has been one of the few constants of the Phillies team since 2015 when he made his MLB debut. Nola is a polarizing figure in Philadelphia due to his feast or famine-type pitching nature.
Especially this season, it feels like Nola is just one bad half-inning away from getting hit around the yard. The right-hander is a free agent at the end of the season. With that fact, as well as his mediocre play so far this season, Nola is definitely a trade chip if the team believes they are out of the playoff race by August 1st’s trade deadline. This season his numbers are trending to be his worst year in the big leagues.
His numbers have been pedestrian with a large side of concern. Nola has made 12 starts, pitched 74.2 innings, and tallied a 4-4 record with a 4.70 ERA. Nola is amongst the top three Phillies pitchers leading three statistical categories that accentuate Nola’s tendency to get tagged for multiple runs in an inning. Home runs allowed (12), walks allowed (18), and strikeouts (65) all have Nola’s name at the top of the leaderboard for the Phillies. There could be too much focus on making perfect pitches, which could promote more walks and striking guys out because of Nola’s noted dip in velocity.
Overall, Nola is a pretty good pitcher that has not quite fully put together his abilities that would have materialized into the left-handed Cole Hamels I believed he could be. Maybe a change of scenery can elevate him back to the Aaron Nola he was last season during the Phillies’ stretch run. The Phillies certainly should make calls on Nola to get something back for him.
Phillies trade candidate No. 3: Seranthony Dominguez
The final candidate to be traded is Seranthony Dominguez. This would be a tough pill to swallow because of Dominguez’s long trek to health in the big leagues. Dominguez worked through an elbow injury that kept him out of pitching from the middle of the 2019 season up until last year. Dominguez came back last season and contributed greatly to the Phillies bullpen last October.
Dominguez’s mention on a list like this may surprise certain people. His contract is under club control until 2024 with a 2025 club option. Money is not an issue with his deal either. Making $2.5 million in salary, teams would love to be able to trade for a cheaper reliever with a big arm. The Dominican Republic native is a valuable piece to have in the bullpen with his electrifying combination of his fastball and slider as well as his embrace for big moments.
So far this season, Dominguez is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA, 23 strikeouts, and nine walks in 21 innings pitched in 25 appearances.
This one seems sort of unlikely. But I am thinking that when selling at the deadline the team needs to give something of value. Out of the three Phillies, Dominguez arguably has the most of the group. He is still in the general physical prime as he’s 28 years old, has recent playoff experience, throws hard, and is under contract past this season. Since he does have so many appealing attributes, he may be harder for the Phillies to trade. Dave Dombrowski, understandably so, will have a high price for the reliever.
It’s early June and it is time to start accepting the reality of this baseball team. That reality being is that they may have to become sellers at the deadline. One year after being buyers of a moderate degree, making a March Madness Cinderella-esque run to the World Series, re-energizing the discourse around baseball in Philadelphia, and signing a top-tier shortstop this is where the team stands. Accepting that reality allows one to make peace with seemingly punting on the rest of the season.
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