With hope for a playoff push in the city of brotherly love, the Phillies trade rumors in 2022 are starting to kick into high gear. The catch is that the Phillies have a lot of work to do to keep pace with the Mets and the Brave in the NL East.
The Phillies’ roster needs are also plentiful, which means Philly might need to target some of the best players available in order to become a legitimate contender in the National League.
Phillies trade rumors 2022
With that in mind, who should be the Phillies’ trade deadline targets this year? Perhaps more importantly, which of Philly’s needs are the most urgent?
That will go a long way to determining the Phillies’ trade targets this summer. Let’s take a deep dive into the latest Phillies trade news and the Phillies trade rumors in 2022 to find out what Philadelphia needs and what players might be able to help.
Rotation
A vast majority of the Phillies trade rumors in 2022 are going to revolve around starting pitchers. At the surface, the Philadelphia rotation might look like its in good shape with Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola at the top, but it’s going to take more than those two to make a serious playoff push.
While Ranger Suarez has provided a nice option from the left side, Kyle Gibson has been little more than a back-end starter while Zach Eflin has missed the last month with a knee injury. Not only do the Phillies need another frontline starter to help them make up ground but they could also benefit from adding depth to the back-end of their rotation.
Like most teams in the market for a starting pitcher, Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo figures to be among the Phillies’ trade deadline targets. He would be a perfect fit alongside Wheeler and Nola to give the Philly rotation a formidable trio of starters.
Frankie Montas, Tyler Mahle, and Jose Quintana are all in the next tier of starting pitchers who could be useful for the Phillies if they aren’t able to win the sweepstakes for Castillo. However, the Phillies should also be in the market for a veteran starter who may not make a huge impact but can shore up the back end of the Philly rotation. Colorado’s Chad Kuhl would fit that description and be a little more affordable than the top pitchers on the market. Kansas City’s Brad Keller would also be an option to just give the Phillies added depth.
Bullpen
The Philadelphia bullpen has been one of the team’s biggest issues this season, which means many of the Phillies’ trade deadline targets will be relief pitchers. Granted, Brad Hand and Seranthony Dominguez have been strong all year while Corey Knebel has been largely reliable outside of a few blown saves.
But forming the bridge to those late-game relievers has been part of the issue for the Phillies. As a result, adding multiple relievers at the deadline, even if they aren’t the most established names, could be beneficial for the Phillies.
The Tigers are the first team the Phillies might want to call when looking for bullpen help. Since the Philly bullpen could benefit from another lefty, Gregory Soto and Andrew Chafin should both be on the radar.
The Tigers also have Michael Fulmer and Joe Jimenez, who could both be moved before the deadline. Pittsburgh’s David Bednar has become a popular name in the rumor mill, and while he might cost a little more, he would also be a long-term solution for the Philadelphia bullpen. Meanwhile, Alex Colome and Daniel Bard of the Rockies or Oakland’s Lou Trivino are also trade candidates worth considering.
Outfielder
The Phillies have been in a bind for most of the season with Bryce Harper relegated to DH duty because of a shoulder problem. With Harper on the IL for another injury, the Phillies still have a considerable need for an outfielder.
In fact, the Phillies need defensive help in the outfield just as much as they need offensive help. Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos playing in the outfield simultaneously has been a huge liability defensively. At the same time, Matt Vierling and Odubel Herrera aren’t necessarily carrying their weight offensively, even if they provide solid defense in the outfield.
Needless to say, Andrew Benintendi might be the perfect option for the Phillies. He won a Gold Glove in left field last year and was an all-star this season because he’s having a great year with the bat.
While he’s in demand, the Phillies might need him more than the other teams interested in Benintendi.
David Peralta is another popular outfielder on the trading block, although he wouldn’t make the same defensive impact as Benintendi. Ramon Laureano might be the next-best alternative to Benintendi, although he’ll be expensive since he’s under team control through 2025. Cincinnati’s Tyler Naquin and Tommy Pham are also worth some consideration, although neither represents a huge upgrade over Vierling and Herrera.
Middle Infielder
While the Phillies have some big fish to fry on the trade market, they could look to make a smaller move to add depth to their middle infield.
With Jean Segura on the IL, Bryson Stott and Yairo Munoz haven’t provided much offensive punch. The Phillies also have to be a little disappointed with the declining production of shortstop Didi Gregorius.
Unfortunately, these aren’t easy problems to fix. That being said, Brandon Drury of the Reds is a capable second baseman and is having a strong offensive season.
Whit Merrifield has a track record that’s better than his 2022 numbers and would be an upgrade at second base. Donovan Solano of the Reds is also a veteran utility man who could provide some depth and reliable defense at multiple infield positions and is having a strong offensive season since the Reds gave him a chance last month.
Discussion about this post