MLB rumors: Massive Cubs trade decision, McCutchen’s future, Phillies trades

Phillies are getting trade calls for starting pitchers

The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly getting plenty of calls on the trade market about their starting pitchers, particularly their starters. The reports on what they’ve been involved in indicate that the August 1 trade deadline is going to be very good for any team that has a starter available for trade.

Dave Dombrowski talked about the state of the Phillies starting pitching but first pointed out that looking for rotation fortification is not just a Philadelphia problem, it’s nearly a league-wide problem. Even the Phillies are getting calls inquiring about the starting pitching they have available.

That’s curious because the Phillies are balancing their own act, but teams may just be getting a lay of the land. After all, plenty could change by August, and if the Phillies tumble in a tough division and become sellers, they could trade someone like Aaron Nola. Nola is on an expiring contract.

More intriguing, though, is what Dombroski said about the asking prices on starting pitching.

"“Exorbitant,” Dombrowski said about the asking price. “First of all, most clubs need starting pitching. So if you’re one of those clubs, you’re not going to trade until you get overwhelmed. And most clubs don’t overwhelm you at this time. They’re trying other alternatives. I know we’ve played almost 50 games, but when you get to the All-Star break, the standings could look significantly different."

That could play well for anyone with a quality starting pitcher to sell. Or, it could mean teams unwilling to pay the piper that need another starter create an opportunity for their younger pitchers in the background.