At the trade deadline, the Philadelphia Phillies were generally regarded as having the top starting rotation in Major League Baseball. However, they still sought to improve it.
With Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez, and Cristopher Sánchez already in their lineup, the Phillies had a solid rotation that could compete well in the playoffs. Despite this, they pursued additional pitching help.
Ultimately, the Phillies decided to retain their current pitchers and focused on bolstering their bullpen and outfield instead. By August 1, they had added Austin Hays, Carlos Estevez, and Tanner Banks to their roster.
According to a major baseball insider, the Phillies nearly acquired one of the top available pitchers at the deadline. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Phillies were in talks with the Chicago White Sox in the final hours before the deadline about trading for ace Garrett Crochet.
The deal fell through due to a specific reason. Rosenthal noted that the Phillies did not offer right-handed prospect Andrew Painter, who had undergone Tommy John surgery in July 2023. At 25, Crochet has had an impressive season with the White Sox, earning his first All-Star selection and recording 167 strikeouts in just 120 2/3 innings, despite a recent increase in his ERA to 3.65. His reluctance to accept a bullpen role and his demand for a contract extension before participating in the playoffs were also factors in the trade’s collapse.
Recently, the Phillies have been focusing on high school talent in their first-round draft picks. Since 2019, when they selected Bryson Stott from UNLV, they have not chosen a college player in the first round. The 2025 MLB draft is approaching, and Bleacher Report has already predicted that the Phillies will select Lucas Franco, a shortstop from Cinco Ranch High School in Katy, Texas, with their No. 27 pick.
Baseball America ranks him among the Top 15 prospects in the draft, noting his potential for physical growth and the possibility of moving to third base. This aligns with the Phillies’ recent strategy of drafting prep prospects, as they have done with their last five first-round selections.
