The Philadelphia Phillies have already been busy ahead of the MLB trade deadline, but the work may not be finished.
Philadelphia has completed two trades, landing second baseman Luis Arraez and right-handed relief pitcher Caleb Kilian from the San Francisco Giants, then adding left-handed reliever Brooks Raley from the New York Mets. To make those moves happen, the Phillies sent right-handed pitchers Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair to San Francisco, while the Mets received outfielder John Spikerman and right-handed pitcher Luke Gabrysh.
That gives president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski a pair of fresh upgrades, yet the club is still being linked to starting pitching. Jayson Stark of The Athletic reported that the Phillies remain in that market, writing, “The Phillies are sending RHP Luke Gabrysh and OF John Spikerman to the Mets for LH reliever Brooks Raley.
They're still shopping for a starting pitcher. More details to come,” Stark wrote.
Rotation help had been the stated priority in the run-up to the deadline, and that was before Andrew Painter turned in a successful start in his return to the Big Leagues after a few weeks with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The need is still obvious. Outside of Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler and Jesus Luzardo, the Phillies have not gotten enough from their rotation, and the team has not won a game started by anyone other than those three since June 24.
That kind of stretch is hard to survive for long, especially with a playoff spot on the line in a competitive National League. Aaron Nola has been better lately, particularly in the second half, and if he ends up in the No. 5 role, Philadelphia would be in a stronger position the rest of the way.
There are still names out there for the Phillies to chase, even if several possible fits are already off the board. Kevin Gausman was one logical target, but the Chicago Cubs got him from the Toronto Blue Jays.
San Francisco sent Tyler Mahle to the Atlanta Braves. Freddy Peralta, another pitcher Philadelphia had been tied to, went from New York to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tarik Skubal is now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Jose Soriano is filling Gausman’s spot with the Blue Jays.
Dombrowski has already shown he is willing to part with prospects to improve the major league roster, and with starting pitching still in play, the Phillies may not be done making noise before the deadline passes.
In Other News...
Phillies Just Made A Deadline Move That Changes A Crowded Roster
The Phillies added to their roster in a deal with the Giants, bringing in second baseman Luis Arraez and right-handed pitcher Caleb Killian as they continue sorting out the shape of a club that expects to be active around the deadline. It is the kind of move that speaks to both present needs and the larger picture, with Philadelphia looking for help in the lineup and another arm to strengthen the bullpen.
San Franciscos return came in the form of right-handers Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair, a reminder that even late-July moves can ripple through a roster in more than one direction. For the Phillies, the trade also adds another layer to a crowded mix of options, and the next question is how quickly the new arrivals can fit into a team trying to sharpen itself before the deadline passes. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Roster Shuffle Just Put Several Depth Pieces In Trouble
A busy roster day in Philadelphia sent three depth pieces off the 40-man picture as the Phillies made room for their latest additions. Catcher Payton Henry and relievers Lou Trivino and Nolan Hoffman were designated for assignment, a familiar late-July squeeze that often says as much about timing as it does about performance.
The moves opened space for Luis Arraez, Caleb Kilian and Brooks Raley, a trio that reshapes the immediate roster math and pushes the displaced players into an uncertain holding pattern. Henry, Trivino and Hoffman can still be traded before the deadline or end up on waivers, but for now they are the latest names caught in the churn as the Phillies keep adjusting around the edges. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Just Sparked The Infield Shakeup Fans Saw Coming
The Phillies made a notable move to add more contact to their lineup, reaching a deal with the Giants that brings in right-handed reliever Caleb Kilian while sending Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair the other way. The headliner in the swap is a 29-year-old second baseman whose calling card has long been a high batting average and a low strikeout rate, exactly the kind of profile that can shift a lineups shape as much as it changes its look.
For Philadelphia, the bigger question now is less about the trade itself and more about where everyone fits once the new pieces are in place. The infield already had some moving parts, and this addition only sharpens the uncertainty around who settles at second, how the corners are arranged and whether the middle infield gets pushed into a new alignment. [Read more 🡒]