MLB Rumors: Shane Bieber trade value, Phillies buying, demote Volpe?
By Mark Powell
MLB Rumors: What are the Phillies trade deadline plans?
The Phillies are in a tough spot as we near the middle of June. Just over a month away from the MLB trade deadline, Philadelphia general manager Dave Dombrowski has a decision to make — does he trade players away from last year’s NL pennant-winning team, or does he add and try to make another run?
The answer, it would appear, is more geared towards the latter. Dombrowski and the Phils have won five straight and face the lowly Tigers again on Wednesday. In fact, it’s Dombrowski’s experience with the Tigers that prepared him for his time in Philly.
In 2015, Dombrowski was in the final year of his contract, but still sold a number of assets away from a Tigers club that was expected to content before the year. There are more parallels between that team and the 2023 Phillies, as injuries were a sticking point, especially to start the year. To his credit, Dombrowski doesn’t necessarily see it that way, and thus may still buy at the deadline anyway.
"“What are we, 7 1/2 games behind the Braves?” Dombrowski said, per The Athletic. “They’ve got a good club. But we have really good starting pitching. When it’s pitching well, it can shut down anybody. We have a really good bullpen, a shutdown bullpen. And our good hitters can hit good pitching as well as anybody when they’re playing well. That’s the key for us. If we can get to that point, once you get in, then you take your chances.”"
The Phillies executive has been encouraged by the last few games. Sitting in fourth in the crowded NL East, every game counts at this juncture.