Devers Deal Sends Shockwaves; What Should the Phillies Do Now?
Since the Philadelphia Phillies went on their surprising run to the 2022 World Series, the expectations of the Philly Sports Fan base have reached levels unseen from the fan base in 16 years.
But the Phillies' flawed roster construction has come back to haunt them in the postseason the last three years. After setting the World Series record for most strikeouts in 2022 versus the Houston Astros, the Phillies Offense struggled when they had a 3-2 series lead in the 2023 National League Championship Series loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After the Phillies averaged 2.75 Runs per game in their NLDS series loss against the New York Mets, many Philadelphia Sports Fans were hoping the organization would upgrade the lineup heading into the 2025 season.
The entire fan base was deflated in October 2024, not just because the Phillies lost to their National League East Rival Mets. When President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made this statement about the team, numerous Phillies fans thought it was tone deaf:
"To me, the answer is not the missing piece,” Dombrowski said. “The answer is playing well at the right time. I don’t think there’s any secret formula....The reality is, we have a lot of good players - I don’t think we need to have more star players....We have as many stars as about anybody in baseball. So I don’t think necessarily (think) that you need to add more. John (Middleton) is very accommodating and giving, but you're also in a position where you're still working with a payroll."
This perspective from the future Baseball Hall of Fame Executive laid the ground work for an offseason in which the team added a Left-Handed Starting Pitcher (Jesus Luzardo) to a rotation that already had two (Sanchez and Suarez) along with paying $10 Million for another Left-Handed Hitter (Max Kepler) to play Left Field for a team with already four Left-Handed Hitters projected in the starting batting lineup.
Major Star Trade Ramifications For The Phillies
After winning five of six during the latest homestand and bouncing back from a miserable run in which the team won 9 of 10 games, the positive vibes were back in Philadelphia. The Phillies are finally playing up to expectations, and the fans were excited to see guys like Otto Kemp helping the big league club.
But reality came crashing down when the Boston Red Sox, out of nowhere, traded 28-year-old All-Star Slugger Rafeal Devers to the San Francisco Giants for two average starting pitchers (Harrison and Hicks) along with James Tibbs (SF Giants Number 4 Prospect), and 20-year-old Pitching Prospct Jose Bello.
While Red Sox fans are confused about the timing and return of this trade, this move immediately vaults the Giants up the ranks of National League contenders. San Francisco has scored just 25 fewer runs than the Phillies this season, they are right behind the Phillies in the NL Wild Card Standings with 41 wins compared to the Phillies 42 wins.
The National League Postseason picture is already stacked with seven teams having at least 39 wins with 12 weeks into the MLB season. We are almost at the halfway point, and there is now another team that is stacked compared to a Phillies team that continues to be stagnant.
Are The Phillies Really Good Enough To Win A Championship?
While President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski continues to "stay the course" with the current roster, the reality is that this team has flaws that have been exposed numerous times in recent years:
-Nick Castellanos hitting his second Grand Slam of the 2025 season doesn't change the fact that his three-year average is 22 Home Runs during his 3 seasons in Philadelphia with 151 strikeouts per year. Aside from having the worst Defensive Wins Above Replacement (WAR) among all Starting Right Fielders in Baseball, Castellanos has 35 Strikeouts in 34 playoff games with the Phillies
-Trea Turner's 85 Hits is the most in the National League and his 19 Stolen Bases are 4th best in the NL. But he has been Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde in the Playoffs with the Phillies compiling a .200 Batting Average in the 2024 Postseason and a .347 Batting Average in the 2023 Postseason.
-JT Realmuto has regressed each season since his 22 Home Runs and 84 RBI season in 2022. The now 34-year old Catcher has averaged just 17 Home Runs and 55 RBI the last two seasons. Realmuto is having a good month of June (.333 Batting Average with 5 RBI in 11 games), doesn't change the fact that in the postseason, the Phillies catcher has a .216 Batting Average in 34 postseason games with the Phillies, along with 41 Strikeouts.
-Brandon Marsh was originally acquired at the 2022 MLB Trade Deadline to improve the Outfield Defense. But like his teammate Castellanos, the left-handed hitting Marsh has the worst Defensive WAR (-0.9) among all Center Fielders in Baseball. Marsh has also struggled in the playoffs, with 35 Strikeouts in 32 games along with a .233 Batting Average.
Yes, Otto Kemp has hit well in his first 8 games with the Phillies (.345 batting average with Four RBI) and Max Kepler has 2 Home Runs with 5 RBI in the month of June, no one is depending on those guys to be who comes through in the clutch consistently.
Alec Bohm overcoming a horrible month of April and Kyle Schwarber having an MVP caliber season are the only consistent bats in the lineup. With Bryce Harper having a subpar season before he was placed on the Injured List, the Phillies have been winning games in spite of their offensive flaws.
The Phillies starting pitching has been the reason they have 42 wins this season. Philadelphia has the most Quality Starts (39) of any team in Major League Baseball. Meanwhile, the Bullpen has the eighth-worst ERA in MLB (4.50) and the Phillies' 14 Blown Saves is tied for the second most with the Boston Red Sox (The Athletics have 15 Blown Saves this season).
What Can The Phillies Do To Improve The Team?
I can promise you that the San Francisco Giants will not be the only team to acquire a big name ahead of the July 31st MLB Trade Deadline. Over the next six weeks, the Phillies have to make two moves:
-Add a reliable Bullpen Pitcher who can stabilizing force for the Phillies in late innings
-Add a Right-Handed Hitter who can play the Outfield and/or Second Base who will strengthen the Phillies Starting Batting Lineup
Easier said than done, I understand. But Phillies Managing Partner John Middleton told The Phillies Show Podcast the team tried to make plenty of trades last season before the MLB Deadline. If the Phillies are willing to be aggressive, here are some player who have been rumored to be available ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline:
-Athletics Relief Pitcher Mason Miller
-Orioles Left-Handed Hitting Outfielder Cedric Mullins
-Red Sox Relief Pitcher Aroldis Chapman
-Pirates Right-Handed Hitting Outfielder Andrew McCutchen
-Diamondbacks Third Baseman Eugenio Suarez
-Pirates Relief Pitcher Dennis Santana
Now those are the names that we KNOW could be available at the MLB Trade Deadline. No one expected Rafael Devers to be traded this year.
For the last couple of years, former All-Stars such as Luis Robert Jr and Nolan Arenado have been rumored to be traded but both come with question marks. Robert Jr has injury issues and has regressed in the last couple of years, while Arenado is 34 years old, who is two years removed from his last All-Star level productive season.
The Phillies need to add a real impactful bat to their lineup who can supplant Max Kepler and/or Brandon Marsh in the lineup and give the team more reliable depth. If the organization is serious about winning a championship, you may have to consider replacing Bryson Stott at Second Base. Stott's role with the team long term is unknown, with prospects like Aiden Miller only a year or two away from the big leagues.
No matter what the organization does at the MLB Trade Deadline, the Phillies will continue to be a must-watch over the next few months. If you are looking for somewhere to watch the games during the regular season and playoffs, here are some of the best choices in South Jersey:
