Tim Kelly: This would be my perfect (realistic) trade deadline haul for the Phillies – On Pattison

Here’s where I’m at with less than a week left before the Aug. 3 trade deadline: The 57-50 Phillies are a playoff-caliber team that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski should add to. But I think they are more flawed than they’ve been the last few years, and I’m not sure this is the club to push the chips to the center of the table for.

Even if this was the team to go all-in on, I don’t know that there’s a piece that’s going to move that’s worth going all-in for, or that the Phillies have the prospect capital to get a deal done.

I hear the frustration some Phillies fans have with the farm system. It’s been a pretty disastrous year for the group, as Andrew Painter is back at Triple-A and Aidan Miller has yet to play a game. That doesn’t mean, though, that the Phillies should just gut their farm system, trading players like Gage Wood, Francisco Renteria and Ramon Marquez just because other pieces haven’t panned out. Eventually, the Phillies need to start developing talent internally. Fans shouldn’t be resigned to the Phillies having a 2012-2021 drought after the Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, Kyle Schwarber core ages out.

So my trade deadline plan would be as follows: Put yourself in position to make the playoffs, and take advantage if your starting pitching, core lineup pieces and elite closer get hot at the right time. But don’t treat 2026 like it’s the final year baseball is going to be played, even with labor uncertainty looming after this season.

Jul 24, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell (7) celebrates a single in the top of the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images

Trade For Jo Adell To Bolster Outfield/Ability To Hit Left-Handed Pitching

I get that people will look at Jo Adell’s .694 OPS and be underwhelmed.

However, Adell has a .951 OPS against left-handed pitching this season. Perhaps the Phillies can get Adell to improve upon the .592 OPS he has against southpaws, but if not, he could be part of a platoon. He’s mashing lefties this season, and the Phillies need someone who can do that. Adell has played all three outfield spots, but he’s likely going to be seen by suitors as a corner outfielder.

Above all else, I’m intrigued by what Adell could be away from the Los Angeles Angels, who are arguably the most incompetent organization in baseball. We’ve seen some flashes from the former first-round pick — such as the 37 homers he hit a year ago — but they haven’t consistently unlocked him.

What’s so intriguing about Adell is what this could look like if you help him to reach his full potential. He’s still only 27 years old, and has another year of arbitration eligibility in 2027 before being eligible to become a free agent. Other possible trade targets like Lane Thomas of the Kansas City Royals and Taylor Ward of the Baltimore Orioles might have higher floors, but Adell’s ceiling is much higher.

Jun 14, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher A.J. Minter (33) at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Call Your Division Rivals To Bolster The Bullpen

I planted my flag on this when the Phillies were playing at Citi Field last month, and I’m sticking to it.

USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale reported earlier this month that “they [the Phillies] would love to acquire Mets reliever Luke Weaver, but the price tag may be high.“ Weaver has a 1.93 ERA in 40 games this season for the Mets after signing a two-year/$22 million deal in the offseason. The Mets don’t have to trade him, although it might be wise to maximize his value. But because Weaver is signed through 2027, the price tag might be too high for the Phillies to meet with so many other needs to address.

Either A.J. Minter (2.45 ERA in 22 games) or Brooks Raley (2.09 ERA in 43 games) would give the Phillies a much-needed lefty addition in the ‘pen. Minter is probably the better pitcher at his best, although his 4.11 FIP is a red flag. Raley is 38 years old, but his 3.16 FIP suggests his success is more likely to be sustained. Both are rentals.

The Phillies could probably stand to add two relievers. Heck, they could use both Minter and Raley. Again, though, with so many needs and limited resources, the Phillies might have to settle for one major addition to the bullpen, while hoping that Jonathan Bowlan sustains his recent breakout and José Alvarado turns things around.

Jul 10, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray (38) prepares to throw a pitch against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images

Trade For A Veteran Starter

I think Tarik Skubal will be traded, but even though he’s a rental, I still think the price will be very high for the two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner. Perhaps I’m being too conservative, but I don’t believe in giving up franchise-altering compensation for rentals, even as good as Skubal is.

That doesn’t mean that the Phillies don’t need a starter, and don’t need a good starter. To get to the playoffs, the Phillies need to upgrade the No. 5 spot in the rotation. And to compete in the postseason, the Phillies are going to need a fourth starter that’s performing better than Aaron Nola, who has a 5.82 ERA in 2026.

At this point, the Phillies are likely to play in the NLWCS. If that goes three games, the Phillies are going to need a fourth starter a lot sooner than the NLCS. Even if the Phillies were to sweep the NLWCS, they’ll likely need four starters in the NLDS.

The Phillies — according to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic — did have a scout in attendance at All-Star Foster Griffin’s start this past Saturday. Griffin has a 2.76 ERA in 21 starts this year after spending the last three seasons in Japan. The Nationals are in contention, but the addition of Connelly Early might allow them to buy and sell, and maximize the value of Griffin, who will be a free agent after the season.

Griffin is going to be coveted, though. Former AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray, also a rental, could end up being more realistic. He has a 3.16 ERA over 116 2/3 innings, but his 4.52 expected ERA and 4.49 FIP suggest some regression could be coming. Even if that regression does come, Ray would still be an upgrade for the Phillies at the No. 4 spot.

Obviously, though, they should turn over all stones, including Griffin, Kevin Gausman and other available rental starters. If Painter’s season had gone as expected or Nola had rebounded, perhaps the Phillies could have put more resources towards a high-end reliever or an outfielder, but as things stand, they clearly need to add a starting pitcher behind Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo.

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