The Phillies are back in the NL East mix, but the way July is unfolding has made one thing clear: they could use a jolt. An All-Star break would help. So would a splashy move before the August 3 trade deadline.
That’s where Tarik Skubal enters the conversation.
MLB insider Jon Heyman floated the Phillies as a possible fit for the Detroit Tigers ace, and he gave two reasons that line up with how this front office operates. “Phillies could be a Skubal player,” Heyman shared.
“They are an aggressive shopper, and a 3rd top lefty (along with Sanchez and Luzardo), plus Wheeler would give them a shot vs. L.A.”
The price would be enormous. Any team chasing Skubal would have to pay up, and for Philadelphia that likely means Gage Wood at minimum, with Aidan Miller and other top prospects possibly in the mix as well.
Still, the upside is obvious. A rotation built around Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and Skubal would be a nightmare for any opponent in a postseason series. It would give the Phillies what they need most: another frontline starter who can help them match up with elite teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It would also change the shape of the rest of the staff. Aaron Nola would slide to the No. 5 spot, easing some of the pressure on him. And if Andrew Painter is not part of any deal, his role would become less demanding too, with a bullpen possibility in October.
None of that makes a Skubal trade likely. It does, however, fit the profile of a Dave Dombrowski deadline swing.
The Phillies are aggressive, and they do need starting pitching. But for all the fun of imagining Skubal in red pinstripes, the more realistic expectation is that Philadelphia spends this summer looking for bullpen help rather than landing the Tigers’ ace.
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Holmes also carries a layer of future uncertainty that makes the speculation more than just idle chatter. He has a player option after the season that he is expected to decline, which only adds to the sense that the Mets may have to decide whether to keep him for a push or cash in now. If they do listen, Philadelphia would be paying close attention, because a trade like that would say plenty about how both teams see the race unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
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Alex Coras availability has only added to the intrigue, especially with the Mets also in the market after parting with Carlos Mendoza. Philadelphia is being viewed as the team most likely to land him, which would make the next managerial decision one of the most consequential of the offseason, even if the current run keeps buying everyone a little more time. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Make Another Unsettling Bullpen Change Before Reds Series
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Backhus had been hit hard in recent outings, and the club is clearly looking for steadier answers as it waits for veteran Brad Keller to come off the injured list. Lazar gives the Phillies a familiar arm with some Triple-A success behind him and a few big-league looks already on his rsum this season, but this bullpen picture still feels very much in motion as the trade deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]