5 bold Phillies predictions for the 2023 MLB season

Bold Phillies prediction: A Brewers pitcher is the big trade deadline addition

The pitching-needy Phillies who don’t get what they wanted out of Abel in a premature promotion then turn to the Milwaukee Brewers for some help. Milwaukee is loaded with big-league starting pitchers. Rumors of the team checking in on some of their pitchers circulate and fans are eager to see the team acquire Corbin Burnes. It won’t be him. Instead, it’s one of the other guys.

Brandon Woodruff, Eric Lauer, and Adrian Houser are all under team control through the 2024 season. To varying degrees, each would be a nice fit for the Phillies. A trade for one of them has greater benefits and cost than last year’s deadline swing for Noah Syndergaard.

Lauer, the lefty of the three, might be the one to go after. He’s the youngest at 27 and appears to be ready to get even better. Woodruff is already there while Houser may be trending toward a bullpen role.

Since this is all about predictions and a part of them is taking a risk, the Phillies make a blockbuster swing for Woodruff. Some fans think he’s overrated and point toward the number of starts he has made in his career. It does cost them a pretty good prospect, not Abel or Andrew Painter fortunately, but it does give them an arm they can think about extending. Milwaukee saves a little bit of dough in the deal and can turn their attention toward choosing to keep Burnes long-term. It does seem they will only pay one the money he deserves.