Inside The Phillies

Crafting the Dream Philadelphia Phillies MLB Trade Deadline Approach for 2025

What would the perfect approach to the 2025 MLB trade deadline be for the Philadelphia Phillies?
Dylan Sanders|
May 26, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of a Philadelphia Phillies hat and glove on the bench against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Truist Park.
May 26, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A detailed view of a Philadelphia Phillies hat and glove on the bench against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Truist Park. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are again one of baseball's best teams, but still have a couple of holes to fill on their roster before the MLB trade deadline comes.

While the Phillies don't have a ton of issues on their roster, they could use some more right-handed pitchers in the bullpen and should add at least one more bat, though they have said they feel fine where they are.

Here is a potential best-case scenario approach to the deadline that could fill out the roster well:

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Acquire RHP Felix Bautista from Baltimore Orioles

The trade: Philadelphia sends RHP Mick Abel and OF TJayy Walton to Orioles for Bautista

With Jose Alvarado out for the postseason and the lack of a true closer yet again, now seems like the time to go all out and try to bring in an impact arm.

It also seems like the last chance to get the most out of Mick Abel, who has slowed down from his hot start to his MLB career.

Bautista missed all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, but he has bounced back with a 2.56 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 31.2 innings. His ERA is down to just 1.06 in his last 17 outings.

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Acquire RHP Dennis Santana from Pittsburgh Pirates

The trade: Phillies send RHP Seth Johnson to Pirates for Santana

While Baustista can come in and be the shutdown closer, another right-handed arm for the middle innings and setup opportunities would be important.

Johnson has had a nice couple of outings in the Majors this year, but does have a 4.43 ERA in Triple-A this year. He still is a bit of a project and Santana would put them in a better spot to win in 2025.

The Pittsburgh reliever has been lights out this season with a 1.42 ERA over 38 relief appearances.

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Acquire UTIL Willi Castro from Minnesota Twins

The trade: Philadelphia sends 2B Devin Saltiban and RHP Michael Mercado to Twins for Castro

The Phillies haven't committed to adding a bat at the trade deadline, but they really should. If they end up just going for one, a guy like Castro makes sense.

The 28-year-old has played every but first base and catcher during his career. He's a bit of a jack of all trades, master of none, but that versatility works for a team that could use help at different places.

He's a switch-hitter that has posted a .273/.363/.432 slash line with seven home runs and eight stolen bases this year.

For more Phillies news, head over to Phillies On SI.

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Dylan Sanders
DYLAN SANDERS

Dylan Sanders graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree from the Manship School of Mass Communication in 2023. He was born in raised in Baton Rouge, LA but has also lived in Buffalo, NY. Though he is a recent graduate, he has been writing about sports since he was in high school, covering different sports from baseball to football. While in college, he wrote for the school paper The Reveille and for 247Sports. He was able cover championships in football, baseball and women's basketball during his time at LSU. He has also spent a few years covering the NFL draft and every day activities of the New Orleans Saints. He is a Senior Writer at Inside the Marlins and will also be found across Sports Illustrated's baseball sites as a contributing writer. You can follow him on Twitter or Instagram @dillysanders

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