Phillies Trade Deadline Smoke a Day Before the Deadline

The MLB Trade Deadline is not July 31 this year (today) but rather August 1.  Teams have until tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. to make a deal - and remember - waiver trades are a thing of the past.  So Phillies president Dave Dombrowski has just over a day to make the Phillies better prepared for a playoff run.

While things are generally quiet, here is what is making noise on the Phillies trade front.

The Phillies appear to be interested in a starting pitcher.  Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com reports that the Phillies are one of 10 teams looking to add to their rotation.  While the Phillies have gotten admirable contributions from Cristopher Sanchez, there is little depth in the organization immediately available.

One name that could make sense is Detroit Tigers starter Eduardo Rodriguez.  Dombrowski knows him well from his Red Sox days.  The Tigers bumped back Rodriguez's next start, suggesting that he could be on the move.

The one caveat is that Rodriguez can opt out of the remaining three years and $49 million on his contract he signed ahead of the 2022 season.  An acquiring team could negotiate Rodriguez guaranteeing those years, much like the Texas Rangers negotiated the same to keep Max Scherzer in Arlington next year.

The Phillies have also long been connected to a right-handed outfield bat.  Randal Grichuk is already off the board, having been traded to the Los Angels Angels.  But many names remain, including Tommy Pham, with whom the Phillies were linked, and Adam Duvall, whom Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports is a Phillies target.

The Phillies have yet to be linked to relief help, despite the injury issues concerning last year's two relief stars, Jose Alvarado and Seranthony Dominguez.   Among relievers moved include Jordan Hicks, who has been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, and former Phillies pitcher David Robertson, who will be in uniform tonight in Miami as the Marlins face the Phillies.