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MLB insider unveils update on Phillies' trade deadline demands originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Philadelphia Phillies have really managed to turn things around in the National League East, given that they're now only two games back on the Atlanta Braves for the top spot in the division.
This comes after the Phillies' disastrous start to the year, going 9-19 before the front office decided to pull the plug on former manager Rob Thomson and put Don Mattingly in charge, a move that has seen the team go 46-21 under his tutelage.
With the MLB's trade deadline only 15 days away, Philadelphia's time to make moves for the betterment of the team is rapidly closing, but according to a report from a senior reporter, they're looking to make some moves.
The Phillies' wants at the deadline As reported by USA Today's Bob Nightengale , Philadelphia has two areas of concern to address before the deadline slams shut in early August: a right-handed hitting outfielder and a set-up man.
"The Phillies, who already were seeking a right-handed hitting outfielder, now are in desperate need of a setup man with veteran Brad Keller out for the year with a torn UCL in his right elbow," writes Nightengale.
Since Adolis Garcia had his season ended early due to a right lat injury, the Phillies have been without some right-handed hitters, with Gabriel Rincones Jr, Justin Crawford, and Brandon Marsh all slashing from the left-sided batter's box.
It's not to say any of these players are particularly underperforming per se, but it would give the aforementioned Mattingly more lineup diversity, with Derek Hill being the only right-handed hitter to use.
Philadelphia's bullpen predicament When it comes to the bullpen front, as Nightengale explained, the season-ending injury to Brad Keller has put Philadelphia in quite a predicament.
As things currently stand, Mattingly has Orion Kerkering, Jonathon Bowlan, and Jose Alvarado as his setup men with Keller out, so it's understandable that the team might look for more.
It's worth considering that any move the Phillies make could be an improvement on Alvarado, who has really struggled from the mound this year, posting an ERA of 6.62 and a BB/9 of 3.7.
How the Phillies look to address their reported concerns will be something to track as the deadline nears closer by the day.
The MLB trade deadline closes on August 3 at 6:00 p.m.
EST.
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