The Philadelphia Phillies began the season 9-19, but after a red-hot stretch since Don Mattingly took over, they’re back in a postseason spot and look like legitimate contenders this season.
However, there are still some glaring issues with the team. Outside of Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sanchez, this rotation has some issues. But their most pressing issue is the same one they’ve had for a few years now: offense outside of their big-two sluggers.
ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle called out how the Phillies need to find a way to upgrade the offense surrounding Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, which is the same trade deadline question they’ve faced for a few years now.
Phillies face a similar Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber trade deadline question
“Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Brandon Marsh have been terrific,” Doolittle writes. “But can Dave Dombrowski find some support for them by the time we get deep into the postseason?”
While the Phillies have three hitters of All-Star caliber, in Schwarber, Marsh, and Harper, the real issue for the club is that they’re not getting much offense outside of those three hitters.
And more importantly, their right-handed hitters are, once again, significantly underperforming. The Phillies desperately need a good right-handed slugger.
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Finding a way to upgrade their right-handed hitting this season by the trade deadline would be ideal, as Schwarber, Harper, and Marsh need more help.
Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, J.T. Realmuto, and even a resurgent Adolis Garcia aren’t performing well enough to stop the Phillies from adding help offensively.
This question is the same one they’ve had for years now, and it’s getting a bit exhausting at this point. But Dombrowski’s job is simple: find more offense this summer by the August 3 deadline. If not, this team might not go anywhere this October.
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