Phillies Predicted To Land Two Stars In Huge MLB Trade Deadline Deal
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Zach Pressnell is a Newsweek contributor based in Columbus, Ohio. His focus is MLB content. He has an extensive knowledge of professional baseball and all things that come with it after working closely with the sport for years. Zach has been with Newsweek since November 2024 and previously worked at FanSided and OnSI. He is a graduate of Bethany College (WV). You can get in touch with Zach by emailing z.pressnell@newsweek.com.
Zach Pressnell
Contributing Sports Writer
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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The Philadelphia Phillies desperately need to add to their outfield and bullpen ahead of the trade deadline. While the team is very talented, they fell flat in the postseason last year. Upgrading the outfield and bullpen this week would help prevent that from happening again.
Could they kill two birds with one stone?
ESPN’s Paul Hembekides recently predicted the Phillies would acquire both Minnesota Twins reliever Griffin Jax and utilityman Willi Castro in a massive deadline deal.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 22: Relief pitcher Griffin Jax #22 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates after striking out Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the last out of the seventh inning… LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 22: Relief pitcher Griffin Jax #22 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates after striking out Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the last out of the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on July 22, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
“The Phillies’ need for a reliever is well-documented — Jordan Romano has pitched to a 6.99 ERA, and Jose Alvarado is ineligible for the postseason because of his PED suspension,” Hembekides wrote. “Jax’s underlying metrics (40.7% chase rate, 39.7% whiff rate, 36.9% strikeout rate) are cartoonishly good and suggest his 3.91 ERA is artificially inflated.
“Philadelphia’s need for another bat is likewise acute: Since May 1, second baseman Bryson Stott (60 wRC+) and left fielder Max Kepler (72 wRC+) have been among baseball’s worst regulars at the plate. Not only has Castro posted an above-average batting line in each of the past three seasons (105 OPS+ over that span), but the utility player has also logged more than 300 innings this season in both the infield and the outfield.”
Jax and Castro would be a pair of huge additions for the Phillies, but it would likely cost a solid prospect return. However, this would be much cheaper than chasing trades for Ryan Helsley, Jhoan Duran and Luis Robert Jr.
The Phillies would have to cut ties with a few prospects, but that’s the cost of doing business. If the team wants to win in October, which they’re very capable of doing, this is a move that needs to be made.
More MLB: David Bednar Trade? Tigers Linked To Deadline Deal For Pirates Closer
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