Phillies Mailbag: 2024 Trade Deadline Edition

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  This week is a trade deadline edition.  Tune into The Sports Bash with Mike Gill to hear your questions answered on the air.

Over under on the # of remaining trades prior to the deadline for Phillies? I will set the line at 1.5?
~Greg

I think I will take the over.  That does not mean that the Phillies will be making some major moves.   I think there are a couple moves to be made.  I think precedence makes me believe that the Phillies will be busy up until the last minute.

I think a bench player could be in play.  The Phillies removed Cristian Pache from the roster to add Austin Mays.  But the former Whit Merrifield spot has been occupied by Weston Wilson.   

Wilson is batting just .200 in his time with the club.  While I think he will play less with the addition of Mays, I think that is a place the Phillies could add a more natural infielder who can hit lefties from the right side.

The recent injury to Ranger Suárez would make me think that the Phillies could add a starting pitcher, too.  The Phillies were linked to Chicago White Sox starter Garrett Crochet as recently as Monday evening.  Crochet has publicly said he won't pitch in the playoffs, but a team like the Phillies might not even need him then.

But aside from the fact the team might be able to get by with a Kolby Allard start or two, what would happen between now and the end of the season if another injury hit the pitching staff.

Plus, relief help would always be welcome.  So I'll take the over.

Like the Carlos Estevez trade? Not the biggest fan of giving up George Klassen. Should have given them Mick Abel.
~David

I really like the trade. I think Carlos Estevez really helps the Phillies from the right side.  We saw a very inconsistent Seranthony Dominguez in 2023 and 2024, leading the Phillies to need some right-handed help behind - or now in front of - All-Star Jeff Hoffman.

Let's also consider that as good as he has been, Orion Kerkering is logging a lot of innings, and lacks the experience of the former Rockies teammates Estevez and Hoffman.  Having Kerkering as a third right-handed option is pretty good.

I do acknowledge that George Klassen has looked really promising.  His name came up a couple times in the Phillies mailbag.  The Phillies shrewdly drafted Klassen after an injury had some other teams less willing to make him their pick.  With good health, he embarrassed the competition in Low Class-A Clearwater this year.

Klassen was less effective at Jersey Shore, but remains a promising talent.

We saw with one of the last trades with the Los Angeles Angels the value in making the deal, even at a price.  Logan O'Hoppe is becoming the major league starting catcher than he was often projected to be.  But Brandon Marsh helped the Phillies get to the 2022 World Series and go deep in the playoffs in 2023.

That's value.

As for Mick Abel, I do not see him as someone with a lot of value right now.  Would someone take him in a trade?  Yes.  But is his value in a trade diminished compared to last year?  I think that's fair to say.

But Abel is young - give him time.

Since when did the Mets start playing well? Do the Phillies have anything to worry about?
~Phil

Well, the Mets have actually been pretty good for a while. The Mets were 0-3 in March.  They were 9-19 in May.  But every other month the Mets have actually been pretty good.

Here's a breakdown:

• March: 0-3
• April: 15-11
• May: 9-19
• June: 16-8
• July: 16-9

We might not have noticed earlier, but since the Phillies and the Atlanta Braves have essentially been treading water (Phillies 10-12 in July, Braves 10-13 in July), the Mets caught up to the Braves, who also were .500 in May and June (27-27).

I think the Mets still have many holes, which we will see if they address at this trade deadline.  But for them to catch up to the Phillies, the Phillies will have to do a deeper collapse to see the Mets catch up.

The recent struggles by the Phillies included a mix of Bryce Harper and Trea Turner struggling at the plate; Kyle Schwarber before them.  The nagging injuries to the starting pitching has hurt the Phillies, for sure.

But on a team that can still put up a bunch of runs at any moment, and with the likes of Tyler Phillips stepping up when someone is injured, I think the Phillies can maintain their lead.

But the playoffs?  I think the Mets have a real shot of making the playoffs.  We will see what they do at this deadline, if anything.