Fansided

Buy or sell: Evaluating the NL contenders at the trade deadline

By Joshua Sadlock

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 16: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park on July 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 16: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park on July 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 16: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park on July 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 16: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park on July 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

5. Philadelphia Phillies: Buy

After a hot start to the season, things have come undone at the seams for the Phillies. They are just 16-25 since May 29 and are dealing with a long list of injuries to key players. The bullpen has taken a big hit with Pat Neshek, Tommy Hunter and Seranthony Dominguez all out for an indefinite amount of time. In the rotation, Jerad Eickhoff is on the injured list with biceps tendinitis and Jake Arrieta, who has struggled for much of the year, is battling bone spurs which likely require surgery at some point. In the outfield, Andrew McCutchen is done for the year with a torn ACL, Odubel Herrera is suspended for the rest of the year and may never play for the Phillies again and Jay Bruce, acquired to help ease the loss of McCutchen and Herrera, is out with an oblique strain.

None of this really points to the Phillies finding a way to get red-hot in the second half and grab a playoff spot.

Despite everything that has gone wrong this season, the Phillies effectively signaled a transition to win-now mode when they signed Bryce Harper to a 13-year contract. They also traded away the last of their top prospects for All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto. You don’t do those things and then hit the pause button.

Harper has gotten hot and is hitting .327/.431/.571 over his last 13 games with three home runs and 12 RBI. He is capable of carrying a team for months at a time when he gets locked in. Ace Aaron Nola also appears to have righted the ship, and has a 0.76 ERA over his last 35.2 innings. The Phillies should chase a controllable starter at the deadline and keep their foot on the gas for next season.

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