MLB Rumors: 5 teams who should trade for Trevor Bauer

2. Philadelphia Phillies

At 49-47 going into Thursday (16-23 since the start of June), the Phillies are in third place in the NL East, 8.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves and a half-game back of the second Wild Card in a very tight race right now.

Pitching has been a big issue for Gabe Kapler’s squad, with equal fault to the starting rotation (4.60 ERA; fifth worst in the National League) and the bullpen (5.40 ERA; third-worst in the National League). Injuries have plagued the bullpen, but the rotation can’t lean on that as much.

After a fairly rough start to the season (5.60 ERA through the end of April, Aaron Nola has gotten back on track with a 2.86 ERA, 101 strikeout and 35 walks over his last 14 starts (85 innings). But Jake Arrieta has a 4.54 ERA with a low K/9 as he now tries to pitch with a bone spur in his elbow, Zach Elfin has been solid (4.16 ERA, 7.5 K.9) and it goes well off the rails after that with the combination of Nick Pivetta, Jerad Eickhoff (currently on the IL) and Vince Velasquez posting a collective ERA over 5.00.

The Phillies have consistently surfaced in the pitching rumor mill, so it appears they will do something before the deadline. It’s unclear if Bauer is specifically on their radar, but the stance here is he should be.