The trade deadline is a special day on the MLB calendar. The All-Star break has come and gone, and teams are locking back in for the stretch run before fall arrives. The Philadelphia Phillies are a team that is certainly looking to make July 30 their own Carpe Diem and steal the show.
The Phillies have already started their moves, acquiring outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.
Competition could be stiffer this year by the deadline, with half of the teams in each league still within 5.0 games of a postseason berth. More teams are looking to make a statement and buy when they usually wouldn't in previous years. Expanded playoffs have surely influenced this new approach to roster construction.
One thing is certain for the Phillies, they are buyers and know what they need to acquire. The question is, how aggressive will they be? Will they take a more safe approach and add a player or two who won't cost much prospect capital, or will Dombrowski put his stamp on this year's deadline and go all-in for top-tier talent?
Bryce Harper confident Phillies will get the job done at this year's trade deadline
Bryce Harper has a unique connection to the Phillies and the front office. He has maintained a close relationship with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and owner John Middleton since he was brought into the organization in 2019. Harper has grown to trust the front office and who could blame him? They've continued to build a winning team around him.
Harper at times likes to speak things into existence, especially when it comes to outside players that are able to be brought onto the roster. He has confidence and according to The Athletic's Matt Gelb, knows that Dombrowski can get the job done (subscription required).
"Dave's going to get the job done if he wants to," Harper said, per Gelb.
Time and time again, you hear Harper praising Middleton and Dombrowski for the job they've done and know that they are focused on winning and will do everything they can to bring home multiple titles to Philadelphia.
July 30 can't come soon enough, and Phillies fans will patiently wait for more headlines, however small. We're just hoping that whatever moves they make will bring us from contender to winner.