ESPN: Nola is Phillies’ Most Untouchable Player

As the August 1st trade deadline fast approaches, contending teams are searching all over to find that missing piece for a playoff run, while under-performing teams look to send off veterans that are no longer useful to their struggling organization.

ESPN’s David Schoenfield took a look around the league at each team’s untouchable player, and for the Philadelphia Phillies, it was former first-round pick Aaron Nola.

Who is the most untouchable player currently on the big league roster? Nola's 4.75 ERA isn't pretty and he has struggled lately, but his 3.06 FIP suggests there's a lot more upside than the ERA indicates.

While the Phillies are certainly a team on the rise, they are still sitting near the bottom of the National League East division at 46-55.  One thing they do have down the pipeline is some pitching depth in the organization - Vincent Velasquez, Zach Efflin and Jared Eickhoff are young and already at the big league level with Jake Thompson about ready for his call to the majors.

While the possibility of a Nola trade would be an unpopular decision, he could be one player that could get the Phillies a bat they desperately - but don't count on it happening.