Three unnamed teams have offered catching help to the Phillies since the news broke earlier this week about J.T. Realmuto’s knee surgery, as president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. While Philadelphia is expected to look for some kind of short-term depth in Realmuto’s absence, Dombrowski didn’t sound too enamored by the options available thus far, noting that the three clubs approached the Phillies about the available catchers: “That’s usually probably not a good sign, that they’re trying to get rid of them. Rather than the opposite way where you’re pursuing them.” Since Realmuto is slated to miss roughly a month, Dombrowski seems content to “take a look at our young guys” like backup catcher Rafael Marchan in the interim, so the Phils don’t necessarily feel much pressure to make a trade.
Philadelphia’s outstanding 47-22 record also provides a bit more breathing room, as the Phillies have the National League’s best record and look like a lock to return to the playoffs. Dombrowski naturally expected his team to be good, but admitted that a .681 win percentage even exceeded his expectations, especially considering that the Phils have been without Trea Turner for the majority of the season. Turner’s impending return is an upgrade on its own, and in terms of other possible trade deadline additions, Dombrowski said it’s “way, way, way, way, way too early” to start accessing how the market might take shape. Dombrowski cited bullpen depth as one possible area to explore, and doesn’t seem to think the Phillies will pursue a “we’re going to trade three top prospects” type of blockbuster trade. The PBO is also cognizant of how adding and subtracting from the roster might impact team chemistry, as obviously Dombrowski doesn’t want to disrupt what has been a winning formula for the Phillies to date.
More from around the NL East…
- The Nationals placed Joey Gallo on the 10-day IL earlier this week, and manager Davey Martinez provided reporters (including Spencer Nusbaum of the Washington Post) yesterday with some unfortunate context, as Gallo’s left hamstring strain is “significant.” No more specifics were given about the severity of the strain or how long exactly the Nats expect Gallo to be sidelined, yet it would seem unlikely that he would be back in action before the All-Star break. Gallo already missed three weeks earlier this season recovering from an AC joint sprain his left shoulder, and this latest injury compounds what has been a miserable 2024 campaign for the veteran. After signing a one-year, $5MM free agent deal with Washington this past winter, Gallo has hit only .164/.285/.321 over 165 plate appearances, and striking out 71 times.
- A.J. Minter is likely to throw a bullpen session soon, Braves manager Brian Snitker told MLB.com and other media, as the left-hander continues to recover from inflammation in his left hip. It would appear that Minter is just about on track with the one-month timeline initially projected for his recovery, as he has started throwing side sessions to warm up his arm. A longtime staple of the Atlanta bullpen, Minter had a 2.95 ERA in 21 1/3 innings this season before hitting the IL.
Bryce would get a statue alongside Rocky if he were to don a mask again and fill in for Realmuto.
Hockey or classic?
Future HOF executive Dombrowski is only stating the obvious, no need to rush into trading talent for a catcher that may no longer be needed a month from now.
If a trade is needed by the deadline, hopefully he will consider McGuire.
Tug McGuire!
Fever, my problem with dealing McGuire is the return won’t be much and until Teel is ready, he’s probably worth more to Boston. Everyone knocked Bloom but his return on Vasquez was great. More and more I’m thinking much of the issues he got blamed for was ownership. The exception being pitching.
dewey – Would you rather his value sink down to nothing? Since April 27th he’s batting just .173 with just a .496 OPS. He’s also 29 years old, so there probably isn’t much if any improvement expected over time. But he’s a solid backup catcher and capable catchers are always in demand, you saw the ridiculous contract Vazquez got.
I’ve said this before, maybe you didn’t read it, if the Sox were planning to contend this year or next I would feel differently. But with ownership saying it will be at least 2026, having a good backup catcher is not that important just like having a top closer isn’t that important. McGuire is NOT in their longterm plans, so if they can get something decent for him now I say do it.
As for Bloom, I haven’t a clue why you brought him up. Nobody is saying the Diekman trade was a bad one, and certainly everyone knows the Vazquez trade was a great one. But neither has anything to do with whether or not to trade McGuire.
Carson Kelly from Detroit would be a good pickup. The tigers have a triple A catcher ready to get a shot . Kelly is throwing out over 40%
I like Marchan… if he can hold his own while Realmuto is out he becomes a solid back-up and Stubbs gets released or sent down.
Kelly is a decent back-up catcher, but I think Marchan is the better, cheaper younger option for the Phils.
Realmuto is getting up there in age (33) and may need more DH time. He’s a free agent after next season, so grooming Marchan would be a wise decision.
Marchan is an extremely good defensive C, and has been hitting well since he was last in the Majors in 2021. Joe Girardi said Marchan was the best young defensive C he’d seen since Ivan Rodriguez, that should tell you something. Don’t be surprised if when JT comes back, they carry 3 C’s. Stubbs is a big part of the clubhouse and chemistry, and he can play OF, 1B, and 2B if needed. Merrifield doesn’t serve much of a purpose on the team hitting under .200 all season, so he can be dealt or DFA’d.
Marchan hit a home run last night to help the Phillies win.
This is an audition for Marchan, who’s out of options next year. He’s handled himself well in the limited opportunities he’s had at the bigs. Like that they are pairing him with Ranger Suarez and Christopher Sanchez. If the Phillies are going to go big, Mason Miller is the type of relief pitcher they covet. Would a package of Mick Abel, George Klassen, Samuel Aldegheri and say Simon Muzziotti be enough to get a conversation started with the A’s? Would love to hear others input on what kind of a player those 4 could return. Klassen & Aldegheri have gotten off to phenomenal starts this year, if you look at their stats. I’d try to sell high on that trio of young pitchers. One thing is for certain – the Phillies will not trade Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, Aiden Miller or Starlyn Caba – not even for Luis Robert. But maybe the other 3 could bring back a solid, controllable RHRP and possibly a bat in their prime like J.J. Bleday or Randy Arozorena.
They are only prospects. Couldn’t get Roberts for any of them.
Oakland laughs and hangs up the phone.
Luis Robert
Luis Robert
Luis Robert
Luis Robert
Luis Robert
Luis Robert
Luis Robert
Luis Robert
24/7/365 – ALL DAY ALL THE TIME
News Flash……
He may be great for your stat-based Rotisserie League team, but he doesn’t have that great of an impact on a team that plays on a major league baseball field.
I don’t mean to throw could water on your idea, but I think any Mason Miller to Philly rumors make little/no sense when you really think about it.
From the Oakland side of things, they will have pressure to compete in the next 1-2 years. After the novelty of playing in Sacramento wears off, sales will drop if they aren’t competing. While I think it would be wise for them to deal him, they aren’t under any pressure to do so.
From the Philly side, nearly every contender will be in his market. And while Philly’s farm system is better than it was when DD arrived, 80% of the contenders can offer better packages for Miller than Philly can. Painter can be that one X factor in a trade, but dealing a player whose only turning 22 and coming off TJS with his ceiling (he was receiving Verlander comps and before TJS & Skenes was drafted, he was regarded as the #1 pitching prospect in baseball) and no previous injury history. It just doesn’t make sense for Philly to trade an arm of that caliber for a closer.
It also doesn’t make sense from a club philosophy standpoint. Since Thomson took over, the Phillies have not valued the closer role in the traditional sense. The moves they’ve made have been for guys that have closer stuff or previous experience but they don’t have to commit a closer role to them (Robertson, Soto, Alvarado). Kimbrel was the lone exception and he only received a 1 year deal. And in the postseason, Thomson was pitching him in 6th & 7th innings. Investing a large prospect investment (when your farm isn’t as deep as others) for someone your manager will be pitching in the 6th inning of a playoff game doesn’t make sense. If the Phillies wanted Thomson to make an adjustment, they could’ve tried to sign Hader. The Phillies we’re willing to over Yamamoto $325 million but didn’t even call Josh Hader. Their rumored interest in Tanner Scott I think reinforces their idea that they want big velo guys or sinkerballers that can close if called upon but don’t require the position to be happy.
Here’s what the Phillies need:
– An outfield bat that can provide above average defense in CF and league average offense that can hit second, eight, or ninth in the order.
– A right handed reliever that can pitch late in games and that has either a high velocity fastball and/or can generate ground balls.
While Mason Miller fits the second position, I explained why it doesn’t make sense that he’ll end up in Philly (if traded). I think some stand alone relievers that could end up in Philly would be the likes of Michael Kopech, Justin Lawrence, Taylor Rogers, & Peter Fairbanks.
Now, I’ll bring up 2 potential options for trade partners where the Phillies get both of their needs addressed in 1 deal. However, both of these partners are not true sellers and would require them to change course and either reload or rebuild for next year.
Cincinnati Reds
OF Spencer Steer
RP Alexis Diaz
This deal gives the Phillies a RH bat to replace Rojas in CF. Steer’s underlying metrics showed he was bound to regress from last year which he has. While the metrics don’t paint him as an all-star talent, he’s still a decent starting CF with speed, some power, & defensive abilities. Diaz gives them a younger Raisel Iglesias that can generate ground balls and get strikeouts. While he can pitch in the 8th or 9th inning and he doesn’t struggle with LH hitters.
Toronto Blue Jays
OF Daulton Varsho
RP Jordan Romano or Erik Swanson
Where the Reds deal has the RP being the more impactful piece, this deal centers more around the OFer. This is also predicated on Toronto trying to resign Bo and/or Vladdy while retooling for 25. If you don’t move those 2, Varsho is probably the next most valuable player they could move. Varsho is a strong defensive outfielder who struggled in his move to Toronto trying to prove himself. His swing is reminiscent of Schwarber’s swing before he met Kevin Long, now the Phillies hitting coach. Romano is hurt now but if he comes back healthy, the Phillies may be interested in him. Swanson was great last year and generates lots of ground balls when healthy. I imagine a lot of his struggles this year are due to his son’s accident right as spring training wrapped up. His son has been getting treated in Dunedin and the Phillies are right next door in Clearwater. So it would seem inviting for him to be in Philly.
Return
With the Cincy deal, the Phillies get 3 year each of Diaz & Steer. With Toronto, they get 3 years of Varsho and 1.5 of Romano/Swanson. Either package will require one of the Phillies top 4 prospects. Painter and Miller are probably both untouchable in any trade that’s not for a superstar. So it leaves it to Caba & Crawford. Part of this is to replace Johan Rojas. So with Rojas part of the return, I think Caba is the logical choice instead of receiving 2 speed-first CFs in the same deal. Mick Abel would also need to be part of the package as he would provide 6 years of control for a possible #5 starter next year that has upside to maybe be a #3. A high rising prospect like Klassen probably also greases the wheels. Lastly, both of these teams would be looking to retool for 25 and would need the closer role filled. The Phillies interest in Tanner Scott means that Gregory Soto is likely a trade candidate.
So, I could see a package being something like: Starlyn Caba, Johan Rojas, Mick Abel, George Klassen, & Gregory Soto
jumps;
Respect that you put a lot of thought into your comment.
I’ve been following the Phillies closely since DD took over. He’s lived through typical MLB experiences as a FO head:
1) Situations can change in a day in MLB. 2) A player you depend on gets injured. 3) A productive player heads downhill. 4) Someone you’ve been working with catches fire and is an unexpected surprise. And on and on.
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I don’t get the Rojas bashing at all (not just from you), nor the need for a new CF. Marsh can play a very good ML CF. The Phillies have invested a lot of time and resources in bringing Rojas along. The young man does some dumb things (yesterday he was thrown out in a pivotal play because he didn’t get a good lead off 2B). So? He’s 23 years-old. 2 years ago Alec Bohm was doing dumb things – today he’s solid all-around player and star. Winning organizations develop their own players – they don’t pay retail to get another teams expendable cost-prohibitive players. This is not Rotisserie League.
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Just one example regarding what you propose:.
The Jays gave up a lot to bring in Daulton Varsho. Last week their manager said he thought Varsho was the best defensive OF in MLB. Now they’re supposed to trade the guy along with a decent relief pitcher (which they have a shortage of) for some of the Phillies prospects….but not the top ones?
Look, I know the Jays FO is screwed up, but even they don’t do something that dumb. They want teams to take their overpaid, over-the-hill players which they accumulated by being impatient with their youngsters as you suggest the Phillies should be, But alas – DD is not Shapiro/Atkins. He has a track record of winning and developing players everywhere he’s been.
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DD is looking at August and where the Phillies will be then. Will Realmuto be able to begin to do some Catching in order to be ready for the playoffs? How did Stubbs and Marchan work out? Will he have to go out and get a name Catcher because Realmuto can’t go? Or will Stubbs and Marchan prove to be fine handling the pitching staff, but he’ll need to bring in a big run producing bat to replace Realmuto? Is Rojas coming along (a few years ago I couldn’t believe his sticking with Jose Alvarado out of the bullpen)? How does he want to use Marsh? Is Dahl for real as a platoon LF/DH? Did he pick up anyone else on waiver or in a minor trade? What injuries have they had to other positions?
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The season isn’t even half over. Like many here you want a contending team you follow to go all out and freeze their roster for 2024 before we even get to the All-Star game.
Not going to happen.
P.S.
2 years ago Ranger Suarez looked like he could be a Closer if he’d remain healthy.
As of today he’s the top candidate for the NL Cy Young award as a Starter.
Phillies have 5 top 100 prospects… DD is going to be tempted to make a deal.
RHP Painter 18
SS/3B Miller 47
RHP Abel 60
CF Crawford 62
SS Caba 99
Crawford and Caba could net them a very solid return. Tampa – Rosario and Paredes? Paredes plays a decent 3B… very clutch hitter… Rosario can platoon at 2B with Stott. Bohm to 1B and Harper to RF? That improves the offense and defense.
Phillies rotation is solid. Bullpen is pretty good too. Teams are always looking at bullpen arms at the deadline, so the Phillies will probably pick up a couple.
Kyle McCann from the A’s may be available to shore up the catching with Realmuto out.
PHI doesn’t really believe Realmuto will only miss a month. That’s just we don’t want to be held up by another team and look we’re in panic mode speak. You would think they have enough offense to go with an internal young C.
Joey Gallo should just retire. But as long as you find teams willing to ante up….why not?
Jacob Stallings is having a decent year. Catcher from the Pirates. He’s a free agent at the end of the year.
From the Pirates only in the sense of played for them a few years ago. Now with the Rockies, and was with the Marlins in between.
No way the Rockies trade him now with Diaz on the IL. He could definitely help a team looking for a better backup catcher later in the summer, but makes no sense for the Phillies if Realmuto will really be back in July.
Gallo can take all the time he needs.
This is the MLBTR comment section……
All the kids are telling that dumb Dombrowski that he needs to panic.
Gonna miss that .164 average.
@ Samuel,
No worries, DD has experience and knows more than any of us on here. But his last 2 trade deadlines have done very little to inspire confidence. They acquired rentals in Robertson and Lorenzen in 22 and 23, respectively. Outside of Lorenzen’s no-hitter vs Washington. Neither really helped Philly to that next level and both were almost no factor in either postseason run. And he moved 2 very good prospects for those rentals who could’ve helped their ML team this year (Ben Brown to CHC who was one of their best starters before his neck injury) or would still be a strong prospect piece that could sweeten a bigger package (Hao Yu Lee).
With regards to Rojas, I have been a defender of his and I would like to say there’s a difference between valid criticism from a decent sample size we have and just bashing a player saying he’s not good. I think Rojas can be a ML talent but I believe he has a limited ceiling and that being rushed to the majors didn’t help that.
Rojas’ bat was almost his weakest tool and he never hit great in the minors. They also called him up straight from AA last year and thrust him into that role. I believe this impacted his growth at the plate. He’s a victim of the DD winter ‘21 roster construction plan of signing Schwarber & Castellanos.
I’ve watched every game the past 3 years, the young players you mentioned, Stott, Bohm, even guys brought in mid-season or after ST like Marsh & Pache. All of them have made noticeable changes/adjustments at the plate in the last 3 seasons. Rojas hit under .050 in the postseason last year and was a guaranteed out every AB and is still doing the same things. Pache, whose only 1 year older than Rojas and has spent as much time on the roster as him, has made adjustments with his leg kick. While his overall numbers haven’t looked great, he’s walking at a greater clip than before, he’s getting hard contact unlike Rojas. But when you’re a near guaranteed out at the plate, fans will want you to at least do the little things. He’s been unable to get bunts down when called upon, he’s been picked off more than anyone else on the team this year. One of my teachers told me in school that there’s 2 negative types of students, dummies & delinquents. If you’re smart but misbehave or if you’re kind but not very bright, people will give you more chances, not everyone will give you the benefit of the doubt but some will. But you can’t be both. Otherwise people won’t give you the time of day.
Rojas can’t be bad at the plate and also be bad on the field/basepaths. He leads Phillie outfielders in errors and Castellanos has played more innings in the field than Rojas has. Couple his middling defensive metrics (which make his eye popping positive metrics last year look like outliers) with his lack of fundamental, it’s no wonder why fans are frustrated with him. Some of his lack of development is 100% on Rojas but he’s not at fault as his pathway was rushed to help fix gaps in the defense that DD thought they would slug their way out of. And I think fans see a club that has a top prospect in Justin Crawford, whose tools are literally better than Rojas in every way. A better contact and power hitter with a better fielding tool, near 80 speed tool, and a plus arm with possible plus plus range. With a prospect that’s just better Rojas, I think fans would just rather cut bait and let him (Rojas) develop with another team, especially since Philly’s timeline is to win now.
Off of Rojas, I had that Varsho idea before the comments went out about him. While the metrics lean in his favor, I think some of those comments are also to inflate Varsho’s feelings as he struggled mightily last year and has just been decent this year. The thought behind this trade idea was one where the Jays retool for 25. If they aren’t trading Vlad, Bo, Gausman, Berrios, Bassitt; they aren’t getting much back at the deadline. IKF & Kikcuhi could be traded but they aren’t getting back top prospects or ML pieces. Yimi is hurt and even if he returns by 7/31, his stock will be down now due to the injury. The only way I could see the Jays retooling without moving a big name is to move a guy like Varsho.
And yes, Toronto (mistakenly) gave up a lot to get him but for the Phillies, they don’t need to do the same thing. While the return may feel light, it gets them 2x top 100 prospects with an aspiring 3rd in Klassen with a CF and closer that could come in and fill in those spots immediately. My argument is that you do not move truly elite prospects for defensive specialist. Varsho has always been a league average bat, a career .226 hitter and with an OPS under .300 with high K% and low BB%. His one elite skill is his glove.
Painter was viewed as the top pitching prospect in baseball last year before TJS. Better than Jared Jones, better than Grayson Rodriguez, the Phillies are going to take care and baby steps not rushing him back from TJS when you have a possible generational arm like Painter. Aidan Miller is on a trajectory to be a top 10 prospect next year. I’ve heard things from Great Value Bobby Witt Jr. to Scott Rolen. These are potential all-star, franchise type prospects. You don’t move those guys for a player like Varsho, it just doesn’t happen in the modern game. Guys like Crawford, Caba, Abel, are those more 2nd tier guys who are probably league starters and maybe make 1-2 all star games through their careers, if lucky. Those are the types that get moved for guys like Varsho.
And my take on Varsho is that he’s an average hitter. But his swing and mechanics remind me a lot of Schwarber. And Kevin Long, the Phils hitting coach, rebuilt Schwarber in Washington and rebuilt Kyle’s career when it seemed like he was flaming out and only 1 bad season from being out of the league or overseas. And if there’s 1 guy who can probably turn Varsho into an above average hitter, it’s Kevin Long.
With regards to Ranger Suarez, this was his first real spring training he’s had since ‘21. In both 22 & 23 he had visa issues which prevented him from making ST. And the one season, he injured himself ramping up after missing the start of ST. He had a full preseason to build up arm strength. Plus it seems like Caleb Cotham has his starters intentionally giving up average velo for better location and pitching more innings.