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Phillies: Top 5 starting pitching trade targets, per MLB Trade Rumors

By David Esser

May 23, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray (55) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray (55) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Believe it or not, we’re into June, and the MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching us. Front offices and managerial staffs alike start to better evaluate their teams post Memorial Day, and a clear line starts to emerge separating the “buyers” from the “sellers.” As much as some people may view the Phillies as a team that should be in the “sellers” category considering their sub-.500 record, popular baseball site MLBTradeRumors.com feels the opposite.

In a recent post highlighting 40 early trade candidates, zero Phillies players were named, leaving us to make the assumption that they believe the Phillies will be looking to add to their roster as the season progresses.

With Dave Dombrowski at the helm and a whole lot of money tied up into the likes of Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Zack Wheeler, and a handful of others, the logic checks out on paper.

Should the Phillies looked to add more starting pitching at this year’s deadline, MLB Trade Rumors named a handful of early trade targets.

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While the team managed to squeeze a few key starts out of Vince Velasquez during the month of May, things quickly came crashing back down to reality during Vinny’s Monday start against the Reds. With Velasquez currently possessing a career-worst 5.56 FIP and Spencer Howard still struggling to go deeper into games, one can only assume that Dombrowski will look to improve the team’s starting rotation this summer, should the Phillies decide to buy.

Dombrowski handed out a combined total of $7 million to the likes of Chase Anderson and Matt Moore this past offseason – neither player has held onto a starting job.

With that in mind, keep reading to get a look at MLBTR’s top five starting pitchers set to be available around this year’s trade deadline.

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