The Phillies have recalled southpaw Bailey Falter from Triple-A, per the team. In a corresponding move, JoJo Romero was optioned to Triple-A.
This is a small roster move for the Phillies that nevertheless represents a larger problem for the roster: starting rotation depth. For most of this season, the Phillies five-man rotation of Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Kyle Gibson, Zach Eflin, and Ranger Suarez has been healthy and effective. Phillies’ starters rank first in the Majors by the measure of fWAR. But at the end of June, both Suarez and Eflin landed on the injured list. Suarez is now back, but as for Eflin, questions remain.
The Phillies have no timetable for when Eflin might return to the active roster, per The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. Eflin’s dealing with a knee that’s twice been surgically repaired in the last six years. Eflin’s timetable could swing the Phillies decision-making strategy regarding the upcoming trade deadline, notes Gelb. If he’s not looking any better in the next week so, Philadelphia could feel encouraged to make a move for a starting pitcher.
The NL East has become a bit of a two-team conversation between the Mets and Braves, but the Phillies still have time to elbow their way into the race. If nothing else, they’re firmly in contention for a wild card spot. This team has been pushing hard for years to make the postseason, and there’s no reason to think they’re going to take their foot off the gas now. If indeed they are intent on making a postseason run, then acquiring some rotation insurance should be pretty high up on their list of trade deadline targets.
For now, Falter will step into the rotation. The 25-year-old lefty has made nine appearances for the Phillies this season, five of them starts, with a 4.82 ERA/5.37 FIP across 28 innings. He’s been stellar through seven starts in Triple-A, posting a 1.56 ERA/2.46 FIP over 34 2/3 innings.
Started definitely needed at the deadline. Familia needs to be cut as well.
*Starter
Brad Keller can’t be that tough to acquire. Not the most flashy, but a clear upgrade. Also, Familia should be DFA’d yesterday. That guy is one of the biggest wastes I’ve seen. Thank goodness it’s a one year deal.
Agreed. When (not if) they upgrade the pen at the deadline Familia should be the first on the chopping block.
I honestly don’t think the pen is that bad outside of Familia. Starting pitching is the greater need IMO.
I wouldn’t expect D D to trade for a reliever. A starting pitcher, and an outfielder that can hit.
One year too many!!
I can’t believe Familia is still on the roster.
Di Di needs to be phased out. Stott to ss. I would bring up Maton to play second until Segura is ready.
Something you won’t hear or read anywhere. Di Di hasn’t thrown out one runner all year on the relay throw from leftfield. All third base ciaches send the runner from first on a double to strait away leftfield. Bad baseball to not recognize this defensive weakness.
The Phillies must trade for a starter.
I think Didi is gone or relegated to bench depth once Segura returns. Familia is unusable. Maton is still injured.
Pretty sure the Phillies need 4 starters in the field. I can’t believe people thought signing castellnos was a good idea.
Will be very interesting to see what PHI does at deadline. Go small or go REALLY big. Man this could be a trade deadline like none before with so many teams in range. 2 months to go – a lot can change!
were in the single digits for days until the deadline now- with just one move made. i think any team who wants a real shot in this years playoff picture is going to need big upgrades at the deadline, it looks like a real sellers market. im quite excited to see what happens and see where the lines are when the dust settles next week
Hopefully he discovers a steadfast approach.
JoJo Romero, your life is calling.
Cas should do a thumbs down gesture every time he hits a homerun from now on until he is traded.
He wouldn’t need to do it much considering he has only 8.
*groan*
Better bring the bats today boys!
Looks like they’re still on vacation. Phillies legend Drew Smyly shutting them down.
Falter giving up runs already. They cannot rely on him and Eflin’s knees are destroyed. Sign a starter now. Please.
Since I typed this Falter gave up 2 more homers in 1 inning. Phillies hopes are dwindling quick.
Earth to Dombrowski,Wake up Dombrowski
Seeing as all trades require players/cash from both sides – who could the Phillies offer? Likely not moving the top two minor league pitching prospects. This would leave DiDi (of little interest ), Odubel (likewise), Moniak, Maton, one of the catchers in the minors, Realmuto (there’s a thought), Knebel?
Phillies have a plethora of catching talent. O’Hoppe should net a valuable return. Bohm has been one of the most consistent bats on the Phillies, but I wouldn’t count him out of a trade either. They should also be willing to take on some bad contracts. It’s not going to be easy, but they are wasting Harper, Nola, Wheeler and Hoskins prime. Honestly, after this Cubs series, I don’t see them as a realistic playoff contender. They are just too inconsistent. Lights out one week to little league the next.
That is why, unpopular as the idea is, Dombrowski should gauge the market for Aaron Nola. All the other available TOR starters have big injury questions. Soto’s availability should loosen up the willingness of other teams to trade top-notch prospects. The Phillies can sign a big name shortstop and another starter in the off-season while awaiting the rise of one of their own TOR-level starters in the minors.
Trading Nola would be a full on rebuild. You trade Nola, you should trade Wheeler, Harper, Schwarber, Hoskins…etc. Starting pitching is what they need most. So if Nola goes, wave the white flag.
Phillies just got swept by the Cubs… time for full panic mode!
Seriously, how about not fielding the worst defense in all of baseball? And while you’re at it, Schwarber having 30 home runs and only 59 RBIs is a joke… why teams continue to use him as a leadoff hitter is beyond my comprehension.
Can we really blame the defense for this sweep? The offense was god awful.
Last night you could definitely argue the defenses lack of plays was the culprit.
Just watching the highlights Bohm missed two playable balls that led to runs. It’s hard to win games when you give up outs like that and allow extra runs.
Yea. Bohm had a breakdown in extras, but the Phillies scored 2 runs in 10 innings. Pathetic.
VPH–I respectfully disagree. You only trade Nola if the return improves the team in the near future, not for far-away talent. He is having one of his best years and is at peak value, despite his history of bouts of inconsistency. He is a free agent after next year and could be re-signed if appropriate. As you noted, the Phillies have too many holes to be a true WS contender this year. Gauging the market for Nola is not only maximizing his asset value, but may be the best way to build a real contender.
Nola’s inconsistency is overrated. He has bad defense playing behind him and has been subjected to bad luck. The guy is a legitimate 1-2 and always has been. It’s not like Nola was only good in 2022. The Phillies need starting pitching more than anything else. Eflin may be shelved for the season. Trading Nola would be giving up. Why would you trade a goos starter when you need starting pitching, unless you were rebuilding? If you want to rebuild, go for it, but the Phillies usually fail at that too.
You trade a good starter because, over the rest of his contract, he may have more value in what he brings back than in the games he starts for the Phillies.
The Phillies are already at a -60 DRS… It’s actually better than I thought they would be if I’m being honest but still… that’s a pretty horrendous defense.
Is it too easy to say Bailey lived up to his name?
Aaron Nola has become the Phillies equivalent of Blake Snell; tremendous stuff, one Cy Young caliber year, and otherwise below .500
Nola has been one of the better pitchers in the league this year. W-L record is sort of meaningless. Not his fault the Phillies offense stinks it up when he pitches. The Snell comp doesn’t work for me as Nola looks as good as he ever did in 2022.
Last three years; Nola 5-5, 9-9, 6-7
If W/L record is meaningless then why play the games ?
Last three years; Nola 5-5, 9-9, 6-7
If W/L record is meaningless then why play the games ?
W/L is meaningless in a vacuum to determine a pitcher’s value is what I should have said. The Phillies horrific defense and lackluster offense is often the culprit behind Ls. Look at Nola’s advanced metrics. Throw Nola on the Mets and he’s a CY Young candidate.
Some posts say get more starting pitching, other posts say trade Nola. Hilarious. Which is it???
Either course is defensible; which is preferable depends on your honest assessment of the Phillies chances of getting into and advancing in the playoffs. As the author of the “trade Nola” posts, I should clarify that I am not advocating a definite trade. I just believe that Dombrowski should find out what he could actually get for Nola, and only make a trade that improves the team over the next few years. If he never asks, he’ll never know.
If they want to compete, I think trading Nola is foolish. If they want to rebuild, have it, but they just went over the tax for the first time in existence. Getting rid of a top 2 starter seems counterintuitive to that.
What if the Yankees offered Gleyber Torres, Anthony Volpe, and Clarke Schmidt for Nola and Stott. Wouldn’t you make that deal for the Phillies’ near future?
Probably, but would the Yankees actually offer that?
That’s my point. If you don’t ask you’ll never know.
Knowing Dombrowski, everything is on the table for a discussion at least.
Falter falters yet again.
Luckily he faltered vs the cubs today and gave up 3 homeruns and 4ER. Cubs sweep Phillies
I don’t understand why the Phillies keep starting Falter over Sanchez. At least Chris Sanchez has had a few okay starts in the last couple of months.