2016 MLB Trade Deadline: 5 biggest losers

2 of 6

Jul 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Pete Mackanin (45) looks on in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Phillies 8-3. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

East. Philadelphia Phillies. 5. player. 6. . National League

Though they are nowhere near as bad of a ball club as many expected entering the 2016 MLB season, the Philadelphia Phillies are 48-59 through their first 107 games, good enough for fourth place in the National League East and 9.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot in the Senior Circuit.

Admittedly, Philadelphia didn’t need to undergo a fire sale like it had to last year, but to sit there and not make any moves to improve its roster in the days leading up to the August 1st deadline is borderline absurd.

Perhaps their most intriguing trade piece was right-hander Jeremy Hellickson. The former 2011 American League Rookie of the Year and 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove winner with the Tampa Bay Rays is having a respectable 2016 campaign for the Phillies. He boasts an 8-7 record in 22 starts for the Phillies this year with a 3.70 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and 109 strikeouts in 131.1 innings pitched.

Though the Phillies are better than expected in 2016 after a disastrous 2015 campaign, it’s odd to think that Philadelphia couldn’t find a suitor for Hellickson’s arm down the playoff stretch. Philadelphia isn’t the worst team in baseball any more, but a few clubs worse than them at least were willing to make deals to improve their club in the long run. Sitting idle at the deadline shouldn’t sit well with the increasingly irritated Phillies faithful.

Next: 4. New York Mets

Home/MLB