Phillies Mailbag: 2025 Trade Deadline Edition

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  Each week we take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in Tuesday afternoons at 3:00 p.m.to hear your questions answered on the air.

Who is the "dream" player that the Phillies could pick up in a trade?
~Pat

Given the offensive and bullpen needs the Phillies have, how about I say Barry Bonds and Billy Wagner in their primes?  Of course, that's not realistic - but here is what I think the Phillies should do before the clock hits 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Trade 1: Phillies Acquire right-handed reliever Jhoan Duran and left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe

I would have first suggested Felix Bautista.  But Baustita hit the 15-day Injured List with a right shoulder injury.  They have yet to even diagnose the injury because of swelling.  Bautista will be on a long-term Injured List stint.

I think that Duran is the best reliever that might be available.  The Minnesota Twins have begun dealing from their roster after falling out of playoff contention.

The Twins need starting pitching and Mick Abel could be a good fit for them.

I think that Coulombe could be a good secondary pickup.  He is older and a free agent after this season, but I think the left-handed depth would be helpful since the Phillies cannot add from outside the organization after July 31.

Trade 2: Phillies Acquire Eugenio Suarez from the Arizona Diamondbacks

The Phillies have needed a right-handed power bat for years.  Could this be the year that they finally get it?  The Phillies have learned that the lineup works best with Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper towards the top.  But that means they need another bat.

The tricky thing here could be the status of Alec Bohm.  Would he be in the deal? Or would they reconfigure their defense to do it.  Harper recently reiterated a willingness to move back to the outfield, though the Phillies probably prefer he did not.

Bohm, if included in the deal, only has one year of control after this season.  If he stays with the Phillies, Bohm might be a prime trade candidate this offseason.

Trade 3: Phillies Acquire Luis Robert, Jr. from the Chicago White Sox

This is a minor deal.  But it is one that can help solidify the platoon in center field.  Johan Rojas has a glove, but Robert has been hitting lefties as of late.  The Phillies have not fared well against lefties.

I can see Rojas and a prospect such as Jean Cabrera heading to the White Sox for Robert.

Robert will be a free agent after the season, unless the team that controls him picks up a $20 million option for Robert for next season.  I tend to think the White Sox would not do that. They have indicated in the media they don't want to trade his upside for nothing.  But my guess is they're bluffing.

Will the Phillies go all in at the trade deadline?
~Ed

I would say that "all in" depends on your perspective.  Will they trade all of their prospects?  Probably not.  But I think it is fair to say that the Phillies recognize the position they are in this time: and it's one of greater urgency than the past.

My above post I've picked three trades for the Phillies to make.  Those deals would bring back four players.  That is a lot of incoming players; that would mean a lot going out the door.

I think the Phillies will have to spend prospect capital this season.

They're facing the potential free agent loss of Ranger Suarez, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto.

That does not worry me so much, particularly if they can win a championship this year.

The Phillies went college-heavy in the draft this past year.  That signals to me that they expect to trade some of their prospect capital.  They'll have players further along in the system to replace they do.

And if the Phillies lose two or all three of the aforementioned free agents, they also will have some money to spend.

So I think the Phillies can, with the prospects they have, do what they need to do to fill out the roster.  Even losing them, I can see them being competitive in the future.

I’d like to know why none of our local media reported on Bryce Harper cursing out the commissioner it had to come from the national guy. Afraid to report this?
~Fred

Word came out in the last couple days that Phillies star Bryce Harper stood up to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred with some choice words.  Manfred has been speaking to Major League clubhouses about the desire of MLB ownership to implement a salary cap in upcoming seasons to provide better compeitive balance.

Harper voiced disappointment that the words had leaked.  He did not, however, refute them.

As to why the local media did not report this - I think it has to do with the fact that the clubhouse was closed, and that the media were not welcome.

It may also have something to do with where it leaked from.

Did it come from the Commissioner's side?  I don't know that, but I would think that the MLB offices have more connection to national reporters compared to local beat reporters.

I think the biggest takeaway to this is not that Harper and Manfred went at it - but that there will be a serious chance of a work stoppage after (or before) the current collective bargaining agreement expires December 31, 2026.

Could the players strike during the 2026 season?  Could they be locked out before Spring Training 2027? It sounds like one of these two options could happen.