August 01, 2022
UPDATE [1:20 p.m.] — Pieces continue to fall off the board but one of interest to Phillies fans is the read just reported between the Brewers and Padres.
BREAKING: The Brewers are trading star reliever Josh Hader to the Padres, a source tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 1, 2022
The Phillies currently hold the third Wild Card spot. But they are within reach of that second spot held by the Padres. Adding an elite closer certainly can help the Padres down the stretch and make things toucher for the Phillies to jockey for better positioning.
Is this just the start for San Diego?
That said: The Padres didn’t give up any of the main prospects they’ve been talking about in myriad other deals. C.J. Abrams, Robert Hassell III, James Wood and Jackson Merrill all remain, as does MacKenzie Gore. Could the Padres really pull off a Juan Soto-Josh Hader double?
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 1, 2022
More to come.
From earlier...
The Phillies have until Tuesday at 6 p.m. to decide how much they want to invest in a potential postseason berth this season.
After a promising four-game sweep of the lowly Pirates over this past weekend, Philadelphia controls it's own destiny when it comes to ending the second-longest playoff drought in baseball. With veterans Jean Segura and Bryce Harper slated to return (Segura first, Harper hopefully to follow in a few weeks) and minor acquisition Edmundo Sosa already factoring in as "upgrades," will the Phillies add starting pitcher or bullpen help? The trade deadline awaits.
The Reds have put a high price on Tyler Mahle, and if the Phillies do not offer one of their top pitching prospects (which is hard to envision), they are likely to be outbid. https://t.co/TlFjJe4NgZ
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) July 31, 2022
Trading Andrew Painter or Mick Abel might be a bridge too far — all Phillies fans would probably agree there. Expecting Philly to out-bid other contenders for the top available starters is probably a pipe dream.
Expectations should be set on the team making some kind of savvy move for an under the radar available arm, perhaps someone seeking a change of scenery. A move rivaling the Cliff Lee acquisition of yesteryear probably isn't coming.
However, it's hard not to notice teams the Phillies are fighting for Wild Card positioning like the Cardinals and Padres are in the mix for Washington superstar Juan Soto. The Phillies risk falling behind if they sit on their hands, but they risk mortgaging their future if they part with the few prospects in their farm system that other teams seem to be coveting in acquire in a deal.
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