Following the All-Star Break, the Philadelphia Phillies identified two key areas that needed addressing before the upcoming trade deadline: adding a bat for the outfield and securing a relief pitcher.
Their recent road trip underscored these needs, as they dropped four of six games against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins.
The series finale against the Twins on Wednesday was particularly frustrating. The Phillies blew a 4-1 lead in the late innings, losing 5-4 in a walk-off. Both of their major concerns were evident: center fielder Johan Rojas went 0-for-2, and the bullpen failed to protect a three-run lead with nine outs remaining, wasting six innings of one-run pitching from Aaron Nola. Rojas has struggled significantly this season, hitting just .231/.268/.295 with three home runs and 23 RBI in 77 games. His recent performance shows little improvement, as he’s gone 2-for-12 with four strikeouts in his last six games.
In the bullpen, the Phillies need an additional reliable arm to support Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm. Jose Alvarado (4.24 ERA), Seranthony Dominguez (4.75 ERA), and Gregory Soto (1.55 WHIP) have all been inconsistent in high-leverage situations.
Fortunately for Philadelphia, potential solutions may lie within their own division. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, “The Washington Nationals are a team to watch. The Phillies are interested in hard-throwing reliever Kyle Finnegan and outfielder Lane Thomas, according to multiple major-league sources.”
Although trades within the division are uncommon, Dave Dombrowski is known for making impactful deals. With the Nationals currently rebuilding and eight games under .500, they are unlikely to compete with Philadelphia this year. Finnegan could provide the Phillies with the dependable closer they need. The All-Star reliever has excelled this season with 28 saves, a 2.32 ERA, and a 0.98 WHIP. Meanwhile, Thomas would be a significant offensive upgrade over Rojas, coming off a 20/20 season and boasting a career line of .250/.314/.430.
Acquiring both veterans would require the Phillies to part with valuable young talent, but this has not deterred Dombrowski in the past. Targeting just one of the two, Thomas might be the more immediate need. A trade with Washington could significantly impact the NL East for years to come, and Philadelphia will need to make a move to address their roster gaps and enhance their World Series prospects.
