Tarik Skubal trade rumors: 3 teams that should break the bank after Luis Castillo trade

3) Tarik Skubal trade rumors: The Phillies would surprise everyone with this move

The Philadelphia Phillies are on the hunt for another starting pitcher in the absence of Zach Eflin. They should have already entered the Tarik Skubal trade rumors conversation with him healthy. It’s truer with one of their arms out. While they were never a serious candidate to pick up Castillo, now is their opportunity to strike and trade for a different arm before they’re all gone.

In their chase for a wild card berth, Philadelphia needs to be one of the more active trade deadline buyers. They have the bats. Bryce Harper and Jean Segura returning from injuries in August will only help their offense. It’s the starting pitching arms they can’t call up from the minor leagues to do them any good.

A problem the Phillies have had recently and even historically is developing pitchers. Cole Hamels is easily the greatest starting pitcher they’ve grown from the minor leagues in the last 50 years. Aaron Nola is a close second but even he has yet to win a World Series MVP—mostly because the Phillies haven’t been very good with him on the roster.

There have been Phillies rumors about them targeting some young and controllable arms not named Skubal. It’s understandable for them to include him in their trade deadline hunting. Maybe they surprise us all and add a young arm before 6pm on August 2. Consider them a darkhorse candidate to make a lot of big moves.