ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 12: Los Angeles Angels’ Noah Syndergaard #34 plays in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 12, 2022 in Anaheim, California. Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP)
After a slow start to the season, the Philadelphia Phillies turned around their performance after a change of coach. Under Joe Girardi, the Phillies were 22-29 with little reason for hope. However, after Girardi was replaced by Rob Thomson, the Phillies won 27-14 and are suddenly a half game away from third wildcard spot in the National League.
That positions the Phillies to expand their roster, with some justification by their rise in standings.
Here are three potential trades for the Phillies that might make sense.
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OV Simon Muzziotti and RHP Noah Skirrow to the Los Angeles Angels for RHP Noah Syndergaard
In our article on the Boston Red Sox, I had Boston trade starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi to the Phillies. While this is a valid option, the Phillies can choose any of the high-quality starting pitchers available.
Syndergaard, 29, isn’t as dominant as he was earlier in his career with the New York Mets but has made a solid contribution to the Angels. In 15 starts, Syndergaard has a 3.83 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.96 FIP and 7.2 K/9. He’s still good enough to help the Phillies.
Muzziotti is a 23-year-old who has struggled with Double-A’s this season, struggling with injuries and not producing when he was in the lineup. In 28 games, he has a .196/.298/.324 slash line. It’s not entirely out of character for his offensive performance up to this point in his career, but the Angels can gauge his value as a potential player.
Skirrow, 24, has shown enough potential that the Angels should be interested in a pitcher of his kind. In 15 starts at Double-A, he has a 4.70 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP, but 11.2 K/9.
If the Angels are willing to fund part of Syndergaard’s salary, they could certainly improve the quality of potential clients in return.
RHP Jean Cabrera and 1B Josh Ockimey to the Colorado Rockies for RHP Daniel Bard
The Phillies bullpen has been a problem for a long time, and there are enough question marks there that it would make sense to add at least one more proven bullpen arm.
The 37-year-old Bard has been an excellent finisher for the Rockies this season, saving 21 games while posting a 1.91 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 3.54 FIP and 10.3 K/9. His walk rate is higher than ideal, but adding a power arm to the back end of the Phillies’ bullpen would improve their chances of making the postseason.
Cabrera is a 20-year-old starting pitcher who has started 10 games at Single-A this season and posts a 5.03 ERA and 1.65 WHIP with a 9.4K/9. It will take further development if he wants to become a major league player, but his strikeout rate in his first full season in pro baseball is encouraging.
Ockimey, 26, has some strength but appears to have stalled in his development. He can still hit. In 85 games split between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Ockimey has 11 homers and a .248/.382/.431 slash line, which might at least be worth a look in the big leagues.
SS Casey Martin to the Kansas City Royals for CF Michael Taylor
The Phillies have split midfield duties between Matt Vierling and Odubel Herrera, and there’s certainly room for improvement on this duo.
Taylor, 31, has hit six home runs and a .276/.348/.400 slash in 69 games for the Royals. He’s usually been an excellent defender, although numbers aren’t as strong as usual this season. Still, he would be an asset in midfield.
Martin, 23, was a third-round pick in 2020, but his first pro season has presented some challenges. In 98 games between single-A and high-A balls over the past two seasons, Martin has hit seven home runs and stolen 17 bases with a .198/.291/.310 slash line. He will need further development before he is ready to fight for a place in the big leagues.
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Scott Cullen
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Scott Cullen is a sports betting analyst for SportsbookReview.com and one of the best known sports betting writers on the web. He wrote about fantasy sports for TSN for many years and has also written for The Athletic, NHL.com, The Hockey News, Monkey Knife Fight and McKeen’s Hockey. Born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, Cullen studied economics at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario and played for the Laurier Golden Hawks ice hockey team.