2025 Trade Deadline Discussion

[EDmuch]

I was thinking that the deal would include Abel, Kemp and Rincones for Suarez. Suarez plays third, Bohm moves to first and Harper and Schwarber alternate between LF and DH. In off season they unload Casty, extend Schwarber, Suarez and Realmuto. 2026 OF would be Harper, Crawford and Marsh.

[BostonRoss]

If the Phillies acquired Suarez without trading Bohm, I’d have Kepler, Bohm, and Castellanos sharing two lineup spots. When Bohm plays, he DHs most of the time, meaning Schwarber would have to play LF. He can make a lot of the plays, sometimes without falling down.

[zambonir]

I just don't know how willing the Phillies are to move Harper and Schwarber to LF. And if they are, there are other pieces they can look at this year. But I would prefer that they get him and keep Bohm. I think they might be just as likely to offload Nick this year if they really were going to put Harper in the OF.

I also can't see them re-signing Schwarber, JT and E. Suarez. JT and E. Suarez will both be 35 next year. And E. Suarez probably doesn't take a shorter deal. Schwarber neither but he's only 32. And even if they do trade Nick they will be paying him $10 million probably.

If they call up Crawford, Kepler probably doesn't stay. He and Marsh are the same player in LF. Rojas can back up Crawford as a RHB. Kemp still plays LF some of the time.

Trading for an OF in the middle of the market rather than a 3B who is the top available bat in the entire league seems more likely still.

[phillychuck]

From the outside, the evidence for both these guys being involved in a gambling scandal is really thin. The pitching videos were not at all convincing, in fact the one pitch Ortiz was supposed to have been intentionally throwing for a ball would be a pitch many righties would swing at, and certainly Casty would!

That being said, Clase is now officially not a trade target.

[zambonir]

Funny to note two things from Zolecki here:

• that Crawford could end up playing LF instead of Marsh because just like Marsh, he's a better LF

• that Suarez could end up DHing not Bohm, because Bohm is the better 3B (by one run per DRS, by a lot per OAA).

https://www.mlb.com/phillies/news/phillies-prioritize-adding-closer-as-trade-deadline-nears

[Philsmania]

From the outside, the evidence for both these guys being involved in a gambling scandal is really thin. The pitching videos were not at all convincing, in fact the one pitch Ortiz was supposed to have been intentionally throwing for a ball would be a pitch many righties would swing at, and certainly Casty would!

That being said, Clase is now officially not a trade target.

Clase does also have a prior PED suspension so it is possible that for all his talent, he also has a bonehead streak.

[zambonir]

I agree that what we have seen reported seems thin; but the fact that this new suspension has dropped and it's been extended to the end of August suggests MLB and the gambling sites have way more evidence. I almost wonder if it's not pro gamblers or gangsters, just friends.

But if it is pro gamblers, the wager pattern combined with the pitch is probably pretty compelling evidence, plus the people who placed the bets could face criminal charges too. One side or the other is bound to talk.

[BostonRoss]

Eugenio Suarez left tonight's game after being hit by a pitch. X-rays negative, but he will undergo more tests.

[zambonir]

Was he playing against one of the teams that wants to trade for him?

[zambonir]

Yep.

Bednar, who turns 31 in October, is an intriguing option on the reliever market. A two-time All-Star, he got demoted to triple A in April. Since his return, he’s 15-for-15 in save opportunities with a 1.50 ERA. He hasn’t allowed an earned run since May 23.

Bednar.... is a model for the volatility of relievers.

And Yep

(Ironically, the Phillies wouldn’t have won the pennant in 2022 without a ninth-inning rally against Helsley in Game 1 of the wild-card round and Bryce Harper’s “Bedlam at the Bank” homer against Suárez in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series.)

Reliever supply might not meet demand at the trade deadline. Here are some...

A similar story

Relievers are so volatile, so prone to fluctuate from season to season, even month to month, additional years of club control matter less than they do with more stable performers.

In looking to add a top reliever at the trade deadline, contenders face a...

[Dirk41]

I admittedly have done zero research into this, but it's wild to me that we aren't pushing hard for Steven Kwan. Good contract, can hit up and down the lineup, great defender.

https://www.mlb.com/news/steven-kwan-rumors-2025-trade-deadline

We are mentioned here, but still hearing lots about Suarez and Robert. Kwan is worth Painter, imo. But I'm a huge fan

[bigegypt0417]

I like Kwan...he isn't worth a trade with Painter in it...you don't trade one of the top pitching prospects in baseball for anything short of a controllable super star.

[zambonir]

Kwan seems to be in the rumor mill as much as anything but Cleveland isn't necessarily that motivated to trade him and are also notoriously hard to deal with.

I also just don't think he makes this team that much better, or at least, doesn't fit quite right. We have more LHB good-defending OFs than we know what do with, including Crawford. Kwan has obviously been a much better all-around hitter and player and would add a guy who'd have some better ABs, but they really need a RHB and power. And the Marsh of May and June was actually as good as Kwan.

You could trade Marsh if you got Kwan but then Crawford is your CF and he might only put up a .700 OPS himself. And you still don't have anyone to take some of the presssure off Nick and JT [even if JT is delivering right now].

[Callison]

This guy has the right idea IMHO: https://sports.yahoo.com/article/trade-idea-sees-phillies-acquiring-124026826.html More new relievers would be welcome, too.

Don't like Suarez' age but he sure looks like the missing piece in the Phils' lineup. Might even have an up side with the Phils' stronger-though-streaky hitters.

Know how to keep the Phils fans in suspense?

[flyers19rw]

To resolve the mess in the OF, a quick remedy would be to bring up Crawford and see what he could do. I don't believe that trading him away for another club's middling players would be a wise decision.
As for the BP, once again there are internal possibilities that exist that might prove to be as good as, if not better, than players on other clubs. With Nola coming back and Abel improving, for this season, using one or two of the Phillies better SPs in the pen could be a solution. Alvarado will be back in three weeks. Adding him to the mix helps even though he won't be eligible for the post season. Some of the guys in the pen are starting to show some abilities-Lazar, Robert, Johnson. Unless a pure closer can be had who would carry some term with him, I don't see any need to panic and overpay for BP help.

[saycheese]

So adding Kwan and subtracting Kepler is not an upgrade in your opinion? That is how you have to look at it. Marsh and Rojas probably stay in CF with Crawford spending the rest of year in AAA (nothing wrong with that as he is only 21). Figure out how things go in the offseason. Kepler goes in a minor deal or DFA'd. Also if I am Cleveland I want Crawford in that deal. Now they are not getting Crawford and Abel or another top 10 guy in that trade. But they can get other pieces.

Me Personally I would DFA Kepler, call up Crawford, tell Thompson he plays every day in CF. No platoons let this guy actually develop, he has done all he needs to do in AAA. Let Rojas, Kemp(when Bohm is back) and Marsh man left field.

I think getting at least two bullpen arms is critical. Even when Alvardo comes back (and he can't pitch in the offseason) he is going to need weeks to get ramp up. Two of Ragnal, Roberts and Johnson need to be off the roster.

[zambonir]

I don't think Crawford is going to be traded this month. From what Matt and others have said the Phillies value him more than other teams do anyway. Either way, he wouldn't go for any middling players. It would have to be Suarez or someone like Kwan with control. I still don't think he fixes anything this year. The idea that he would actually be better than Marsh is just grass-is-always greener stuff. If they aren't able to pull off any kind of deal, they should certainly give him a look.

Lazar has been nice, I'm not seeing any sign that Robert or Johnson can really help, and Ross hasn't been good enough either.

@saycheese Kwan would of course be an upgrade, but not a big enough one to justify the trade price, if the goal is to make the 2025 team better. If you've got a plan for what the '26-'27 OF looks like with him in it that is a different story. Of course the Phillies would have to give up Crawford. And someone else. They'd have to give up at least two Top 10 prospects for a player that good with that much control. You only give up less for rentals.

[Dirk41]

Crawford, Abel, and Chace for Kwan. Then we can resign Chace when Cleveland turns him into an ace. Win win!!

[BostonRoss]

I also just don't think he makes this team that much better, or at least, doesn't fit quite right.

I can't imagine how adding an outfielder on a pace for a 5 WAR season to a team whose three starting outfielders all have negative WAR wouldn't "make this team that much better." He would be replacing Kepler, essentially.

Of course, the price matters, as it would for Eugenio Suarez, but we don't know what Cleveland's price would be. Kwan is controllable for two more years after this one, and so trading a good prospect for Kwan wouldn't be as bad as trading one for Suarez.

But I don't understand why Cleveland would want to trade Kwan in the first place, who is by far their best player other than Ramirez. But if they would consider it, it's absolutely worth discussing.

[zambonir]

Well yeah but a bunch of his WAR is defensive value. His OPS+ this year is only 111, obviously still better than our guys but not what he's been in his better years. Marsh was hitting at that pace or better in May and June, and was just as good as Kwan in 2023.

Kwan actually only had a .648 OPS in June himself, and .710 in July. And its .608 overall against LHP. If you got Robert and moved Marsh to LF [where he will bring much better defensive value]. I think you probably improved the team just as much. I just think getting Marsh back into LF and/or getting a RHB to complement him is more important than one-for-one replacement of Kepler.

Of course it's worth discussing. I just don't think it works for the Phillies in a way that would also meet Cleveland's asking price, since like you say, they don't have to trade him [and will have plenty of other chances to to if it goes that way]. There are lesser players that also cost less and might fit better. And I think I'd sooner overpay for Suarez even as a rental.