The Philadelphia Phillies are evaluating potential moves ahead of the upcoming Major League Baseball trade deadline, set for Thursday at 6 p.m. ET. The organization has sent scouts to monitor players across the league as they seek to strengthen their roster for the remainder of the season.
Team officials have identified acquiring a reliable closer as their main priority. The addition of a high-caliber reliever is expected to address bullpen concerns, especially with David Robertson’s arrival and José Alvarado’s return. However, Alvarado will not be eligible for postseason play.
There is also consideration being given to adding another hitter to support key players such as Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. If a suitable bat cannot be found through a trade, the Phillies may look internally by promoting Justin Crawford from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Crawford has been performing well this season, hitting .327 with an .839 OPS, and could potentially fill in as a left fielder.
Among external options, Eugenio Suárez is viewed as one of the top bats available before the deadline. Since the 2024 All-Star break, Suárez has posted a .916 OPS, ranking sixth in Major League Baseball during that span. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are also among the league leaders in OPS since the break.
Suárez could fill in at third base while Alec Bohm recovers from injury and later serve as designated hitter when Bohm returns, with Schwarber moving back to left field despite defensive limitations.
A more affordable alternative under consideration is White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who has struggled over the past two seasons but has shown improvement recently, including strong numbers against left-handed pitching this year.
With less than four days remaining before the trade deadline, questions remain about whether Philadelphia will secure both bullpen help and an offensive upgrade or if internal options like Crawford will take on larger roles.
