Phillies MLB trade deadline primer: 3 early storylines to watch

There is an absolute in the years since Dave Dombrowski assumed control of the Phillies, and that is an active trade deadline.

He has engineered 12 deadline trades in four years.

He acquired two players Brandon Marsh and Edmundo Sosa at the 2022 deadline who are still on his roster.

Hes obtained others Ian Kennedy, Rodolfo Castro and Austin Hays who left less of a mark on the Phillies.

Advertisement Dombrowski figures to be active again come July; these Phillies are in deep with a $305 million payroll.

They still have flaws.

The Phillies entered this season attempting to strike a difficult balance; they did not sign a free agent to a multi-year contract over the offseason, and resisted trading their best prospects.

This, then, was a bridge year.

The Phillies are trying to win, but without sacrificing everything.

It makes this a fascinating deadline for Dombrowski, who has to issue a referendum on this rosters chances for a World Series title.

Dombrowski has never been afraid to flip middle-tier prospects in July trades.

He has protected his best farmhands at previous deadlines.

The Phillies went deep into trade talks last summer with the Chicago White Sox regarding Garrett Crochet, a deal that would have required surrendering a massive prospect package.

Those talks fizzled .

There might not be a player of Crochets caliber available at this years July 31 deadline.

Even if there is, Dombrowski has made Andrew Painter untouchable.

Other prospects might have since ascended to that status.

Heres a primer on what to monitor in the weeks ahead.

1.

A need for relief Its no secret the Phillies will look to fortify their bullpen.

It is a familiar need.

The Phillies searched for bullpen help at the 2022 and 2024 trade deadlines; they went with proven veteran types like David Robertson and Carlos Estevez.

Under Dombrowski, the Phillies have targeted velocity when building a bullpen.

They had the hardest-throwing bullpen in baseball in 2023 and the third-hardest in 2024.

Theyve dipped to sixth in 2025 that includes Jose Alvarados high-powered fastballs from earlier this season.

They could be hunting in July for more velocity.

Dombrowski will go into this trade deadline knowing hell have Alvarado, suspended by MLB until Aug.

18 , for the seasons final six weeks.

The lefty is ineligible for the postseason if the Phillies qualify.

They do not know how effective Alvarado will be upon his return, but that adds a layer to Dombrowskis decision-making.

Advertisement So does this: The Phillies might have a surplus of starting pitching, depending on Aaron Nolas health and Andrew Painters ascension, which could bump some starters to the bullpen in August or September.

This matters too: This years postseason schedule calls for an extra off day during the National League Division Series, which means a team would need only three starters in a five-game series.

So a bullpen acquisition at the trade deadline has to be more than a marginal one; the Phillies might not be looking for someone to help them reach October, rather someone who can be trusted to pitch in high-leverage postseason situations.

That is a high bar.

Whether that pitcher becomes available or the Phillies decide to meet the price remains to be seen.

2.

Keplers place in the outfield Here lies, yet again, another festering problem.

The Phillies entertained an outfield addition at the 2023 trade deadline, but opted to stick with Johan Rojas in center and Brandon Marsh in left.

They plucked Hays from the Baltimore Orioles last July, only to see that transaction flop when Hays suffered myriad injuries .

They tried another marginal addition over the offseason by signing Max Kepler to a one-year, $10 million deal.

The outfield free-agent market has not borne much fruit: Anthony Santander, Tyler ONeill, Michael Conforto and Jurickson Profar ( suspended ) have all struggled for various reasons.

The only free-agent outfielder from the middle class who has produced, Harrison Bader, is having his best season in years.

The Phillies made a bet on Kepler as a bounce-back candidate.

They have hidden him against lefties through a platoon, yet Kepler is a below-average hitter overall in 2025.

Hes played an average left field.

If the Phillies want an outfield reinforcement in July, they might have to think creatively again.

Many contenders are seeking a right-handed bat.

Left field, at least in the past, would be a logical place to stick one.

Advertisement The Phillies entered the week tied for 25th in home runs by right-handed hitters.

Theyve averaged 102 homers from righties over the past four seasons.

They are on pace for 64 in 2025.

The last time they did not have a righty who bashed 20 homers in a season (excluding 2020) was 2015.

Slugging numbers are down across the sport, rendering any available power hitter a hot commodity.

Some teams could simply double down on pitching and defense.

The Phillies have one of the worst defensive outfields in baseball.

If they cannot obtain power, maybe they rearrange things to optimize for defense.

3.

Abel asset or trade chip? This qualifies as a good problem for the Phillies to solve, considering how much Mick Abels stock has risen following a forgettable 2024 season.

Hes pitched with conviction in the majors.

He has emerged as a more confident strike-thrower; it is a transformation that could entice other clubs.

Abel, for now, is crucial rotation depth because Nola could be sidelined through the All-Star break.

At that point, if Nola is ready, Abel would probably return to the minors.

Sometime in July, the Phillies expect Andrew Painter to factor into their rotation plans.

That would bump Abel even further down the depth chart.

If the Phillies retain Abel, hed still be on the outside of an initial 2026 rotation projection.

The Phillies have Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez and Nola under contract, with Jesus Luzardo and Painter under club control.

All of this must factor into the calculus the Phillies use in assessing Abels place in the organization.

Should the Phillies believe Abels transformation merits a longer look, they could toy with the idea of him as a reliever for the stretch run, then revisit things in the offseason.

The Phillies will receive calls on Aroon Escobar, a stocky infielder who hits the ball hard.

The 20-year-old Venezuelan generated interest among clubs at last years trade deadline despite being sidelined by persistent shin splints.

Eduardo Tait, a big-bodied catcher who does not turn 19 until August, is a potential trade chip.

Rival evaluators have questioned whether Tait sticks behind the plate, but that is not a universal opinion.

The job requirements for a big-league catcher could be drastically different by the time Tait reaches the majors.

(Top photo of Dave Dombrowski: Eric Hartline / Imagn Images).

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