Tanner Roark could be another intriguing option for Phillies before trade deadline

Could Tanner Roark end up on the Philadelphia Phillies before the trade deadline?

Over the last few weeks, numerous players have been linked to the Philadelphia Phillies in regards to potential trade targets, and believe it or not, Tanner Roark has found his name on that list.

While Roark is currently part of the rotation of the Cincinnati Reds, the Phillies are quite familiar with Roark from the previous six seasons leading up to 2019 spent with the Washington Nationals, who happen to be part of the NL East.

Sending a player like Roark packing in the middle of his first season with the Reds may sound a little ridiculous to consider, but also with the Phillies in desperate need of help in the pitching department, it’s certainly worth Cincinnati exploring.

All due respect towards the Reds since the team is loaded with talent on their roster, but when looking at how much of a long shot they are to secure a playoff spot at the moment, being sellers before the deadline isn’t exactly the worst idea in the world.

If anything, Cincinnati seems like they would have a major advantage over Philadelphia leverage wise, and could potentially land a few key prospects to help continue building for the future.

With Roark having a 15-21 record dating back to the 2018 season, some might question why a team like the Phillies would express any interest in a pitcher like Roark since there are plenty of other worthy candidates on different teams.

However, for all Philadelphia knows, a fresh start on a contender like the Phillies could be exactly what Roark needs to get back on the right track to help them secure one of the playoff spots in the National League.

Between Drew Smyly needing to prove he can be consistent along with the uncertainty surrounding Jake Arrieta‘s injury, the Phillies need to explore every potential option in the pitching department before the trade deadline arrives.

Otherwise, October will be here, and Philadelphia could be dealing with the unimaginable by watching the playoffs from home instead of playing in front of their own fans.

Obviously, whether Roark joins the Phillies or not doesn’t necessarily determine this 100 percent, but with the way things have been this season, how can fans not think with this kind of mindset?