
The Philadelphia Phillies are closely monitoring the trade market for bullpen assistance as they look to bolster their pitching staff. However, despite their need for help in the bullpen, the team is firm in their stance that they will not trade their top prospects, Andrew Painter and Aidan Miller, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
One of the key players the Phillies have their eye on is Ryan Helsley, the closer for the St. Louis Cardinals, who is expected to be one of the prominent trade candidates as the deadline approaches. While many teams, including the Phillies, are watching Helsley’s availability, Philadelphia is determined not to part with their prized prospects in any potential deal.
Andrew Painter, a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher, is regarded as the No. 7 overall prospect in Major League Baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. Painter, a former first-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, missed the entire 2023 and part of the 2024 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery. However, he has recently returned to action, rehabbing with Single-A Clearwater. Despite the long recovery process, Painter has shown impressive potential, featuring a fastball that can reach 100 mph. In his brief stint with Clearwater, he has posted a 0-1 record across 7.1 innings pitched, striking out 10 batters. The Phillies have indicated they expect to promote him to the major leagues this summer, possibly using him in a bullpen role to manage his innings as they make a push for the postseason. Aidan Miller, a 20-year-old shortstop, is also one of the Phillies’ top prospects. Miller, another first-round pick, is currently playing for Double-A Reading and is ranked as the No. 25 overall prospect in MLB. However, his performance this season has been underwhelming, as he’s hitting just .206 with a .308 on-base percentage, along with two home runs and four RBIs. Despite these struggles, the Phillies remain committed to his development and are not looking to trade him for immediate bullpen help.
At present, the Phillies hold a 14-13 record and are in second place in the National League East. As the team looks to improve their bullpen, they are also focused on maintaining their position in the division, with aspirations of reaching the postseason. The Phillies’ next challenge will come when they face the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Aaron Nola, who has struggled with a 0-5 record and a 6.43 ERA this season, is set to start for Philadelphia. Nola will be opposed by veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon of the Cubs, in what will be an important matchup as the Phillies aim to get back on track.
Despite their bullpen concerns, the Phillies’ decision to hold onto Painter and Miller signals that they are committed to building for the future, even if it means waiting for a long-term solution rather than making a trade that could potentially sacrifice their top prospects.
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