Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies remain the top team in Major League Baseball, with a 63-37 record, but the team may add more help ahead of the trade deadline.

According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, Philadelphia is "looking at rotation upgrades," with the Chicago White Sox's Garrett Crochet and Detroit Tigers' Jack Flaherty as possible targets.

That comes as a bit of a surprise, given that the Phillies have a clear need in the outfield—namely in center field—and probably would benefit from another reliable late-inning reliever given José Alvarado's recent struggles (9.95 in seven July appearances).

Meanwhile, the starting rotation has been a huge strength.

The Phillies had three starting pitchers make the All-Star Game (Zach Wheeler and Ranger Suárez were named All-Stars but didn't participate due to back spasms, while Cristopher Sánchez was later added as a substitute) and a fourth in Aaron Nola who would have been a deserving choice.

Granted, Suárez has given up 18 runs in his past four starts (21 innings), coming back down to earth after a torrid start. And Sánchez isn't battle-tested in the postseason, meaning the Phillies possibly could be looking for an upgrade at the third starting position, pushing Suárez and Sánchez down a spot.

The fifth starter has been a mild point of controversy, given that Taijuan Walker hasn't been very good in his two seasons with the Phillies (4.67 ERA, 1.35 WHIP). That has left some fans clamoring for Spencer Turnbull to be named the full-time fifth starter once he's healthy again.

Both Crochet and Flaherty would be clear upgrades in that regard.

The 25-year-old Crochet is having an excellent season, going 6-6 with a 3.02 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 150 strikeouts in 107.1 innings. He and outfielder Luis Robert Jr. have consistently popped up in trade rumors as the struggling White Sox potentially prepare to be sellers.

The Tigers have been far better than the White Sox but are long shots to make the Wild Card and probably would be wise to sell pieces as well. Flaherty, 28, is 7-5 this season with a 3.13 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 127 strikeouts in 100.2 innings.

Either Crochet or Flaherty would make the Phillies even scarier heading into October, though it still feels more likely that an upgrade in the outfield or bullpen is higher on the agenda.

Tanner Scott has spent 2024 as one of the best relievers in MLB and with the trade deadline rapidly approaching, and his Miami Marlins having what is essentially a lost season, it is no surprise that teams would be checking in on his availability.

The Philadelphia Phillies are one such team, as reported by USA Today's Bob Nightingale.

A trade for Scott would firmly establish the Phillies as a World Series favorite while strengthening one of the team's few weak spots.

The Phillies are 8.5 games up on the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and 4.5 games in the NL as a whole. They have been one of the best teams in baseball all season long but are not without holes.

The bullpen needs help, with relievers Jose Alvarado, Sernathony Dominguez, Jose Ruiz, and Nick Nelson all accumulating ERAs of 4.0 or higher. They have been liabilities at times, their records helped by the team's electric offense in some cases.

Pitching struggles took down the 105-win Baltimore Orioles, 104-win Atlanta Braves, and 100-win Los Angeles Dodgers all saw their playoff runs end prematurely a season ago as they were let down by pitching and outscored by teams with worse records but hotter bats.

The last thing the Phillies want is to be mentioned alongside those great teams who won plenty in the regular season but faltered when it mattered most, thanks to sub-par pitching.

Looking into Scott and taking the steps necessary to acquire him is a step in the right direction by a Philadelphia front office that has consistently made the moves necessary to return a World Series title to the City of Brotherly Love for the first time since 2008.

The team knows what Scott can do.

In four innings pitched against Philly in 2024, Scott has not allowed a single hit while tallying four strikeouts. It is a performance he has replicated multiple times this season, against some of the best offenses in MLB. Despite the underwhelming nature of this year's Marlins squad, Scott has been elite in the reliever role.

He kicked off the second-half of the season with a 1.27 ERA, 46 strikeouts in 42.2 innings, 16 saves, and a 1.01 WHIP. He has allowed just six earned runs and two home runs while keeping his opponents' batting average to 1.28. He has allowed just 18 hits this season.

Adding him to a bullpen that includes Orion Kerkering and All-Stars Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm, would provide the necessary depth for the team to make a deep run in the postseason and return to the World Series for the second time in three years.

The team needs to do something to compete with the bats of the Dodgers, Brewers, Padres, Diamondbacks, and Mets because come October, when wins matter most, the ability to outscore even the best offenses comes down to which bullpen can hold.

With Alvarado, Dominguez, and Ruiz not playing up to championship level, bringing Scott on board and letting him sit batters down should preserve leads and help achieve wins en route to a first world title for star Bryce Harper and Co.

The Philadelphia Phillies are taking a selective approach to the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Phillies appear to be out on potential deadline targets Jazz Chisholm Jr, Brent Rooker and Tommy Pham.

"The Philadelphia Phillies have no interest in Miami Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., have shied away from Chicago White Sox outfielder Tommy Pham and don't believe that Oakland A's outfielder Brent Rooker is a fit," Nightengale wrote.

The Phillies currently boast an MLB-best 62-36 record and hold a 7.5-game lead over the Atlanta Braves for the NL East lead. The team boasts the current third-best offense and the top pitching staff in MLB.

Still, reinforcements can always make a major difference at the deadline, and Nightengale reported that the team may prioritize bullpen help over adding more bats.

Chisholm was an All-Star in 2022, is arbitration-eligible through 2026 and can provide position versatility in both the infield and outfield.

Rooker is having a very solid season, hitting .294/.372/.579 with 22 home runs and 65 RBIs. He was an All-Star in 2023 and is arbitration-eligible through 2027.

Pham would likely be the cheapest option available, as he is 36 years old and has just four home runs on the season. Still, he is hitting .267/.338/.375 and is only under contract through the end of the season.

The trade deadline is set for July 30 at 6 p.m. ET.

Layla, a white labrador retriever, has wrapped up her career as the bat dog for the Philadelphia Phillies' A-ball affiliate.

The very-good dog who has been with the Clearwater Threshers for six years picked up a bat for the final time during Friday's game against Fort Myers.

After wrapping up her last game, Layla got a special retirement treat and gift from the club.

Layla became a social-media star in 2018 when a video went viral showing her owner, Andrew Davis, asking her to get him a beer from the refrigerator. She jumps off the couch, opens the fridge door with the help of a towel placed on the handle, grabbed the can, brought it to him and went back to shut the door.

Per Leah Burdick of WMNF Radio in Florida, Layla had actually trained alongside athletes at Webber International University when Davis was a student at the school.

Davis explained to Burdick he showed Dominic Repper, Threshers manager of promotions and game entertainment, the viral video and it gave Repper an idea. It just wasn't certain at that point if Layla could pick up a bat.

"When we first contacted the Threshers, Layla didn't even know what a baseball bat was," Davis said.

It didn't take long before Davis took Layla to baseball fields near their home where he taught her to pick up a bat and bring it back to the dugout.

Even though Layla won't be there to pick up bats, Davis told Burdick he will keep bringing her to Threshers games as a fan.

The Philadelphia Phillies All-Star total has risen to eight.

MLB announced that Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez had been named to the NL Team as a replacement for Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale.

Sánchez joins Alec Bohm, Zach Wheeler, Ranger Suarez, Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner as the Phillies participants in the game. This is the eighth time a single team has had eight All-Stars and the first time a team has had five pitchers.

Sánchez was one of the most deserving non-All-Stars available before his selection. He is 7-4 with a 2.96 ERA in 103.1 innings in 2024. This has been his breakout season, as he has already matched his career-high in starts (18).

This has come for a Phillies team that leads MLB with a 61-33 record. Philadelphia's pitching staff leads MLB with a 3.24 ERA and 860 strikeouts.

As Sánchez prepares for his first All-Star Game, Sale will relish the opportunity to get some rest. He is not participating due to making his scheduled start against the San Diego Padres Sunday. 2024 was his eighth All-Star selection and he currently boasts a 12-3 record with a 2.74 ERA.

The 2024 MLB All-Star Game will take place Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

As the Philadelphia Phillies wait for Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber to return from the injured list, they are also looking for help in the outfield leading up to the July 30 trade deadline.

Per USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Phillies are "keeping a close eye" on Oakland A's outfielder Brent Rooker.

Harper (hamstring strain) and Schwarber (groin strain) landed on the IL on June 28 after they were both injured in a game one night earlier.

Manager Rob Thomson told reporters the team "dodged a bullet" and the hope is both players will be back not long after they are eligible to be activated on Tuesday.

Even if Harper and Schwarber don't have extended IL stints, the Phillies could stand to add another outfielder to solidify their lineup for the stretch run. Their leftfielders rank 26th in weighted on-base average (.284) and weighted runs created plus (82) this season.

Left field is about the only position that has been a disappointment for the Phillies in 2024. Their 58-31 record is the best mark in the league and their nine-game lead in the NL East is the biggest for any team in MLB.

Rooker has been one of the few bright spots for the A's over the past two seasons. He was named to the All-Star team in 2023 and could do it again this year. The 29-year-old is hitting .277/.351/.540 with 18 homers in 76 games.

The cost for Rooker could be steep because he's only making $750,000 this season and is under team control through 2027.

The Phillies don't have a great farm system, but president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski won't hesitate to move his best prospects if he has the chance to add a player who can help the MLB club win a World Series title.

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm is set to participate in the 2024 Home Run Derby.

After hitting a career-high 20 home runs in 2023, Bohm has racked up 11 homers in 85 games to begin his 2024 campaign. He's also recorded 70 RBIs, the highest mark among all National League players.

It's been a busy week for Bohm, as he was selected as the NL starting third baseman in the MLB All-Star Game on Wednesday.

The Phillies' infield is well-represented in All-Star action, as Bryce Harper and Trea Turner also secured starting spots in the game.

"It'll be cool to look over to my left and see Trea, to catch a ground ball and throw it over to Bryce," Bohm said, per Corey Seidman of NBC Sports. "To be able to share that with those guys is pretty cool. Those guys have been a big part of helping me grow as a player, showing me what it's supposed to look like."

Bohm is the second player confirmed for the 2024 Home Run Derby, as Baltimore Orioles slugger Gunnar Henderson previously entered the contest on Sunday.

Some stars have already announced their decisions to skip the event, as New York Yankees teammates Aaron Judge and Juan Soto said that they would not be participating on Thursday (h/t Erik Boland of Newsday). Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani also confirmed that he would not be showing up as he recovers from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.

In addition to Bohm's commendable home run total, he's also hit 28 doubles this season and owns a .296/.347/.488 slash line. He'll attempt to become the first Phillies player to win the Derby since Ryan Howard in 2006.

The 2024 MLB Home Run Derby is on July 15 at 8 p.m. ET.