The Phillies have climbed back into the race, and now the focus shifts from the early-season stumble to what they can add before the trade deadline.
Philadelphia is well over .500 again and still chasing the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, which puts the next month squarely on upgrade watch. The club will also host the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, but before that spotlight arrives, there’s work to do. With the deadline less than a month away, figuring out where the roster can still be sharpened is the obvious next step.
One name that keeps making sense is Boston Red Sox left-hander Aroldis Chapman.
Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan of ESPN recently discussed possible trade fits for the Phillies, and Chapman stood out as the kind of move that could actually move the needle. The bullpen remains a major talking point in Philadelphia, even with All-Star closer Jhoan Duran anchoring the back end. Brad Keller is expected back from the injured list soon, but the relief group still looks like an area that needs outside help.
Beyond Orion Kerkering, there just haven’t been many dependable options for Don Mattingly to lean on before handing things over to Duran. The left-handed production out of the bullpen has also been an issue, which is why Chapman fits so naturally into the conversation.
The Red Sox’s struggles make him look like a likely trade candidate, and McDaniel and Passan put the odds of a deal at 90 percent. Chapman has backed that up on the field, posting a 2.36 ERA with 18 saves and 35 strikeouts this season.
At 38, he’s still performing like one of the better relievers in the sport. And with Philadelphia’s prospect pool not exactly overflowing, the front office may only get one real chance to make a significant addition. If that’s the case, Chapman looks like the kind of target they should seriously pursue.
In Other News...
Andrew Painter May Have Changed One Phillies Deadline Dilemma
Andrew Painters return to Triple-A has given the Phillies something they badly needed in the middle of July: a reason to pause before chasing starting pitching help. The former top prospect struggled in his rookie MLB season and was sent back to Lehigh Valley, but his first two outings there have been encouraging, with one run allowed in each start and a cleaner second trip through the rotation that included multiple strikeouts and no walks.
For a club that can see the need for depth on the mound, that matters because every step Painter takes forward can change the calculus at the deadline. If he keeps trending in the right direction, the Phillies may not feel as pressed to pay the kind of prospect price that would come with chasing higher-end starters, and that could make the front offices next move a lot more complicated than simply adding another arm. [Read more 🡒]
The Schmitter Is Finally Coming Back To Citizens Bank Park
For Phillies fans with a long memory, one of Citizens Bank Parks most beloved ballpark sandwiches is making a comeback. The Schmitter, that hybrid cheesesteak piled with steak, onions, cheese, salami and tomatoes on a Kaiser roll, is set to return for the MLB All-Star Game and then stay on the menu for the rest of the season, giving the park a little extra local flavor at a time when food traditions matter almost as much as the baseball.
The sandwich was a fixture at Citizens Bank Park from 2004 to 2016 before disappearing because the kitchen space could not support making it at the quality the park wanted. Now Aramark says it has been working to bring the Schmitter back and hopes to find a longer-term solution, which at least gives Phillies fans a reason to keep an eye on the concessions line as the summer rolls on. [Read more 🡒]
Zack Wheeler Was Livid After Phillies Fans Saw Another All-Star Snub
Zack Wheelers latest All-Star snub landed with extra sting for Phillies fans because it came in the middle of another dominant season, one that has only reinforced how indispensable he has been on the mound. Since returning in late April from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, Wheeler has looked like the same top-line starter the Phillies have built around, piling up strikeouts and run prevention that made his omission feel less like a judgment on performance and more like a bureaucratic quirk.
Wheeler was especially irritated by the way the selection process played out, and his frustration made sense after a seven-inning, 14-strikeout start that only sharpened the case for him. With a 2.28 ERA and the kind of workload that usually earns All-Star recognition, he has given the Phillies everything they could ask for, even if the roster rules created a technicality that kept him out of the game. [Read more 🡒]