RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesESPN insider reveals what Phillies will 'certainly' add at MLB trade deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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The Philadelphia Phillies have three clear needs for the 2026 MLB trade deadline. They need to upgrade their offense by adding a right-handed hitting outfielder, another reliever due to Brad Keller's injury, and a new starting pitcher amid some major struggles from the No. 5 spot and Aaron Nola.
All of those areas of need have to be addressed for this Phillies team to have a chance come October, if they even make it there. So, of those three needs, is there one more likely to be resolved than the others?
ESPN's Buster Olney revealed that there is one position the Phillies "will most certainly" add by the August 3 MLB trade deadline, and that position is the No. 5 starter.
Phillies 'will most certainly' add SP help by trade deadline
"Aaron Nola has struggled, and the No. 5 spot in the rotation has been a mess," Olney writes. "The Phillies will most certainly add a veteran starting pitcher before the deadline."
Philadelphia has been trying out multiple different starting pitchers at that fifth spot this season, initially handing the keys to Andrew Painter, who struggled with an ERA north of 7.00 to begin his big league career.
Alan Rangel and Brian Keller got turns next in that spot, and they've also gone through a bullpen game or two this season. It has not worked out at all.
The Phillies desperately need a better starting pitcher, and they will have plenty of interesting options to ponder this summer.
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Robbie Ray of the San Francisco Giants and Kevin Gausman of the Toronto Blue Jays are two starters Phillies fans should get familiar with, as they'd be ideal, but realistically affordable, trade targets.
Tarik Skubal would be a ton of fun, but realistically, he's going to be too pricey for the Phillies. Casey Mize might be a bit too expensive as well, though Freddy Peralta or Clay Holmes would make sense.
There are plenty of good starting pitchers available for trade this season, so Dave Dombrowski shouldn't have any real issue fixing the No. 5 spot. The only question is who they'll wind up landing.
More MLB news:
Yankees are ‘ leading candidate ’ to trade for Twins ’ Ryan Jeffers
Red Sox ‘ would love ’ to trade for Angels ’ Zach Neto or Astros ’ Jeremy Pena
Padres likely not to trade Mason Miller amid latest update
Tigers expected to trade Tarik Skubal but still try to contend without him
Mets ‘ desperate ’ to trade Luis Robert Jr. after trade failure
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