The Phillies are heading toward the 2026 MLB trade deadline with one clear need sitting at the top of the list: starting pitching.
Andrew Painter and Aaron Nola have struggled, and the other arms the club has tried in the No. 5 starter role haven’t given the rotation much reason for comfort. Even with Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, and Jesus Luzardo performing well, Philadelphia still looks like a team that needs another starter if it wants to shore up the staff.
That’s why the trade market is going to matter so much for Dave Dombrowski. There are a lot of starters available, and USA Today’s Bob Nightengale says the Phillies are expected to be involved with just about all of them.
"They could use another starter, too, and will be in on everyone from Skubal to Robbie Ray to Clay Holmes," Nightengale writes.
Tarik Skubal sits at the top of the board by a wide margin. He’s a one-year rental, but he’s also a back-to-back Cy Young winner, which makes him the kind of arm every contender would want to chase. The price would be enormous, and the Phillies probably won’t end up landing him, but their interest wouldn’t be a surprise.
Robbie Ray of the San Francisco Giants is another name that fits. Tyler Mahle, also with the Giants, could be a cheaper alternative who might make sense for Philadelphia, too.
Nightengale also mentioned the New York Mets, despite them being an NL East rival, as a possible trade suitor for Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes. Foster Griffin of the Washington Nationals is another NL East option that could enter the mix.
Beyond that, the list of possible names keeps growing: Kevin Gausman, Casey Mize, Joe Ryan, Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, Reid Detmers, Jose Soriano, Shane Bieber, and Brady Singer are all mentioned as potential trade targets for the Phillies.
The takeaway is simple. The Phillies are expected to add to the rotation this summer.
The only real question is how big they want to swing. Whether it’s a Skubal-level move or a lesser addition, it sounds like almost anything is on the table.
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That has put a few familiar names on Philadelphias radar, including veteran starter Michael Wacha and outfielder Lane Thomas, both of whom could address areas the Phillies want to shore up. The Royals situation has only grown more complicated with Bobby Witt Jr. sidelined for the first time in his career, and if Kansas City keeps moving in that direction, the Phillies may have to decide how aggressive they want to be before the market really starts to move. [Read more 🡒]