With the MLB Trade Deadline inching closer, teams are deciding whether they are buyers or sellers. The Cincinnati Reds have made the decision to sell, and the Philadelphia Phillies need to call them ASAP. Cincinnati has some pending free agents that could be acquired, and a Phillies Reds trade would make
sense for both teams right now.
Phillies In Search Of Bullpen Help
This week, Philadelphia lost their top free-agent acquisition, Brad Keller, to a torn UCL, which will keep him out for the foreseeable future. Their bullpen was supposed to be a strong point, but with a 4.23 ERA, it’s clear they need help. It’s great that they have Jhoan Duran, whom they acquired at the trade deadline last season, because he has been lights out, racking up 24 saves on the season and making the All-Star team.
The issue is getting the ball to Duran from the starting pitchers. They’ve tried to use Jose Alvarado and Orion Kerkering, but neither was able to instill confidence in the team. Tanner Banks was stellar last year, but this year he has been inconsistent and is currently on the IL.
Cincinnati is eight games under .500 and seven games back of the final NL Wild Card spot. They aren’t in a position to make a playoff push and could seek prospects to build for the future. Two players the Phillies might have interest in are Caleb Ferguson and Brock Burke.
The Phillies desperately need help from the left side in the bullpen, and with both scheduled to hit free agency, the cost won’t be overbearing. Both relief pitchers have won a World Series, so they know the pressure of pitching in high-leverage situations. That’s what the Phillies need because they are headed to the postseason for a fifth consecutive season. Having players with playoff experience would be an advantage for Philadelphia.
Both Burke and Ferguson would be tremendous additions to the Phillies, as they both have over 40 career holds. Burke makes the most sense, posting 9 holds and 1 save on the season, and has the most strikeouts out of the two of them. He also has more innings pitched, but Ferguson missed time during the year due to injury. Burke sports a 2.96 ERA and has the ability to keep the ball on the ground, which is needed when pitching at Citizens Bank Park.
Cincinnati Adds To The Prospect Pool
The Reds should target outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr from the Phillies in a potential trade. He’s 25 years old and fits into the timeframe for Cincinnati. They currently only have two left-handed hitters in the outfield in JJ Bleday and TJ Friedel. Rincones showed power last season in Lehigh Valley with 18 homers and 73 RBI’s, so he has the potential to be a solid player. He would be able to step into a fourth outfielder role and continue his development without the pressure of being in a pennant race.
A Phillies Reds Trade Should Get Burke To Philadelphia
Dave Dombrowski, the POBO of the Phillies, isn’t shy when it comes to the trade deadline. This season, he has already made a move for a backup outfielder in Derek Hill, once Adolis Garcia was ruled out for the year due to injury. Dombrowski should go after Burke to be the left-handed reliever that sets up Duran before the 9th inning. It would shorten the game for the starting pitchers, which is another area of need for this team. A move like this would make Philadelphia hard to overcome once Red October is in full swing.
