After failing to adequately upgrade their roster over the offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies appear ready to go all-in at the trade deadline to improve their bullpen and offense. The Athletic’s Matt Gelb previously reported that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski sounds “more willing to trade bigger prospect chips for controllable big leaguers,” meaning players that were once thought untouchable — like Justin Crawford and Aidan Miller — could be on the move. The Phillies, though, will not trade top pitching prospect Andrew Painter.
Here are five blockbuster trades that can transform the Phillies into legitimate World Series contenders.
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Phillies acquire CF Byron Buxton, RHP Jhoan Duran from Twins
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Minnesota Twins receive: IF Aidan Miller (No. 2 prospect – 21st overall), OF Justin Crawford (No. 3 prospect – 48th overall), IF Aroon Escobar (No. 6 prospect – 96th overall) and RHP Jean Cabrera (No. 12 prospect)
If the Phillies want to make the biggest splash at the deadline, acquiring All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton and elite reliever Jhoan Duran would instantly improve a middling bullpen and offense. Buxton fixes the offensive black hole in center field that ranks 22nd in OPS (.632) and tied for 29th in home runs (three). He also plays excellent defense. But the biggest issue has always been his health as he’s only played more than 100 games twice in his 11-year career.
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As for Duran, the organization can immediately plug the 100 mph flamethrower into the back-end of the bullpen that desperately needs swing-and-miss stuff, especially with Jose Alvarado serving an 80-game PED suspension and prohibited from pitching in the playoffs if they make it that far. Buxton is under contract through 2028 while Duran is controllable through 2027.
It would hurt having to give up Crawford and Miller — former first-round picks — along with Escobar, but Philadelphia’s elite rotation is World Series caliber this season and they can’t waste that.
Phillies acquire LF Steven Kwan, RHP Emmanuel Clase from Guardians
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Cleveland Guardians receive: IF Aidan Miller (No. 2 prospect – 21st overall), C Eduardo Tait (No. 4 prospect – 62nd overall), SP Mick Abel (No. 5 prospect – 86th overall) and RHP Alex MacFarlane (No. 18 prospect)
Two-time All-Star Steven Kwan would replace the mediocre Max Kepler in left field following his mind-boggling $10 million signing over the offseason. Even though Kwan isn’t a power-hitter, he gets on-base, would form a formidable one-two duo with Trea Turner at the top of the lineup ahead of Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, and plays Gold Glove defense. However, he would be another left-handed hitter in a lefty-heavy lineup.
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For Emmanuel Clase, he is the shutdown reliever Philadelphia needs as he has led all of baseball in saves the previous three seasons. After a rough start to the year, he has a 2.91 ERA, 141 ERA+ and 20 saves. He has, though, struggled in the playoffs, posting a 9.00 ERA in seven games last year against the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees, allowing eight earned runs, 12 hits and three home runs in eight innings.
Kwan is under control through 2027, while Clase is under contract through 2028.
Phillies acquire CF Cedric Mullins, RHP Felix Bautista from Orioles
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Baltimore Orioles receive: SP Mick Abel (No. 5 prospect – 86th overall), IF Aroon Escobar (No. 6 prospect – 96th overall), OF Griffin Burkholder (No. 9 prospect) and RHP Seth Johnson (No. 13 prospect)
Even though Cedric Mullins is hitting just .218, he has 13 home runs and a .713 OPS in 79 games. He’s also a free agent at the end of the season, so he won’t cost as much prospect capital. Putting Mullins in center would also push Brandon Marsh back to left where he can take over for Kepler.
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The big get in this deal would be closer Felix Bautista who has returned to his All-Star form after missing all of 2024 from Tommy John surgery. He’s striking out 35.6% of the batters he faces — which is in the top 3% in baseball. His fastball velocity averages 97.3 MPH and he has a 2.41 ERA, 163 ERA+ and 18 saves on the season. He’s also under control through the 2027 season.
Phillies acquire OF Jarren Duran, LHP Aroldis Chapman from Red Sox
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Boston Red Sox receive: IF Aidan Miller (No. 2 prospect – 21st overall), Mick Abel (No. 5 prospect – 86th overall), IF Aroon Escobar (No. 6 prospect – 96th overall) and OF Dante Nori (No. 8 prospect)
Outfielder Jarren Duran might not be performing at his All-Star level like in 2024, but he leads all of baseball in triples with 10 and also has 25 doubles on the season. He would be another left-handed bat in the lineup but would be a massive improvement over Kepler. Duran can also play center, but he’s better defensively in left. He’s under control through 2028.
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The club would also be getting eight-time All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman who has turned back the clock this season. The 37-year-old southpaw has a minuscule 1.18 ERA, 1.50 FIP and 0.763 WHIP. He’s averaging 13.7 strikeouts per nine innings and his fastball velocity is averaging 99.1 mph, which is in the 98th percentile in baseball. Chapman is a free agent at the end of the season.
Phillies acquire OF Taylor Ward, LHP Reid Detmers from Angels
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Los Angeles Angels acquire: OF Justin Crawford (No. 3 prospect – 48th overall), SP Mick Abel (No. 5 prospect – 86th overall), OF Gabriel Rincones Jr. (No. 11 prospect) and LHP Mavis Graves (No. 17 prospect)
Sorry, Phillies fans — Mike Trout won’t be returning home. But the lineup will get the right-handed outfield bat they desperately need with Taylor Ward. He has 21 home runs, which would be second on the team behind Schwarber’s 30. No other Phillie has more than 12 blasts. Ward also crushes lefties, posting an .858 OPS against southpaws this season. He does have his warts — a sub .300 on-base percentage and 26.5% strikeout rate — but Ward would bring balance to this lineup.
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Philadelphia would also be receiving left-handed pitcher Reid Detmers, who is beginning to find his groove as a reliever. Even though he has a 4.15 ERA in 40 appearances, he didn’t allow any earned runs across 13 innings in June and just three in seven games in July. He throws in the mid-90s and strikes out 28.1% of the batters he faces, good for 86th percentile in baseball.
Ward is under control through 2026 while Detmers wouldn’t be a free agent until after the 2028 season.
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