5 best trade candidates if the Philadelphia Phillies are deadline sellers
By Tim Boyle
Whether buying or selling, we should expect the Philadelphia Phillies to make some major moves this summer. They’re at a point where they need to start making the right moves and not just what they view as the most expensive ones.
One major criticism we can all have of this front office was how they continue to stack similar players onto the roster. The team already had some obvious DH candidates on the roster heading into the season and yet they still signed two more when they agreed to deals with Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber. While good moves, it doesn’t address some other needs of the club which may be why they find themselves selling this July.
If that’s what eventually happens with this club, these five players might be the best they can offer to the rest of the league.
1. Philadelphia Phillies trade candidate: Corey Knebel.
The Phillies signed Corey Knebel to either help them close out a World Series or become a trade deadline candidate. There’s little in between with him.
Knebel has been solid as the team’s closer this year. His one-year deal meant to rebuild his own free agency stock for next winter was a wise enough risk for the front office and one that could pay off big for him if he remains successful in Philadelphia.
If you’ve paid attention to even a second of the MLB trade deadline, you’ll know relief pitchers on bad teams are often the most sought-after of any position. Even the best clubs often have the need for a relief pitcher. Knebel, with a closer pedigree, could fill the need for a team in the ninth inning or work as a setup man.
The Phillies won’t feel like they’ve lost if they do end up missing the playoffs and fail to move Knebel at the deadline. It’s just a one year commitment and in the final two months of the season, they could always turn things around. Before we get to that point, they’d be better off stockpiling some wins and making sure their best laid plans with Knebel come true.