By Connor Thomas

Just like the weather, it seems like the Phillies are also finally getting hot. They’ve won 4 of their last 5 games, and are still in Chicago for 2 more games against a Cubs team that has failed to win for 11 straight contests. With Zack Wheeler going tonight, and the Mets facing a double header against a good Milwaukee Brewers team, the Phillies could potentially be 2.5 games out of the division lead by the end of today. There have been very few people that believe the Phils will be looking to buy at the July 30^th trade deadline, but what happens if they stay hot? The closer they get to catching the 1^st place New York Mets, the more likely it becomes that Dave Dombrowski will look to add at the deadline rather than stand pat or sell. With that in mind, here are 5 trade targets that wouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg, but could still help the Phillies make a 2^nd half run.

• Richard Rodriguez, RP, PIT

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  Obviously, the Achilles heel of the Phillies so far this season has once again been the bullpen. In fact, with even a marginally better closer the Phils could be in 1st place in the struggling NL East right now. Richard Rodriguez from the Pirates is a name that has to be high on the list to try and bolster the bullpen. Rodriguez is on a manageable deal ($1.7m) that expires at the end of this season, is 31 years old – so he won’t command a lot of trade equity – and is on a team in Pittsburgh that has no chance to compete. Rodriguez has a 2.51 ERA this year, which would be good for 2nd best among Phils relievers behind only Ranger Suarez. He also has 11 saves on the season, meaning he could be a candidate to take over that role in Philly. If the Phillies can outbid other teams calling Pittsburgh, Rodriguez could be a great fit.

• Ian Kennedy, RP, TEX

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  Yes, when your bullpen has been as bad as the Phillies has been, you need to look at multiple options to try and right that ship. Another option is the Texas Rangers’ veteran reliever, who is having a resurgence at 36 years old. Kennedy has posted a 2.86 ERA this year, logging 14 saves for the lowly Rangers. He’ll almost definitely be on the move before July is over. His contract is even more favorable than Richard Rodriguez; he’s currently on a minor league deal. Kennedy has a more proven track record, meaning he may be more sought after than Rodriguez, but if the Phillies are willing to pay the price of a minor leaguer or two, you could see him in red pinstripes in August.

• Joey Gallo, OF, TEX

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  Another Ranger that may be worth a look is the power-hitting lefty Joey Gallo. Gallo is having a strong year power numbers-wise, already racking up 21 homers and 48 RBIS, so you can imagine what he would look like in the hitter friendly Citizens Bank Park. Gallo is on an expiring contract this year, so he could be a rental, or he could be a re-sign option to replace Andrew McCutchen long term in Left Field. At $6.2m yearly, Gallo is probably the least affordable of the affordable options, but he offers the most long-term upside, especially because of his versatility in the field. He has been playing the outfield for Texas this year, but has also played corner infield during his time in the majors. With Alec Bohm still struggling, maybe Gallo could be a 3B replacement for a stretch run.
• Tyler Anderson, SP, PIT

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  Yes, I know. This list is starting to look like just a list of good Pirates and Rangers players. Well, such is the nature of the trade deadline. Much like reliever Richard Rodriguez, Tyler Anderson is a 31 year old player on a team friendly deal ($2.5m) that ends this season. Unlike Rodriguez, however, Anderson has an ERA in the mid 4s rather than the mid 2s, which makes him less popular with other contenders. Anderson won’t come in and eclipse Wheeler, Nola, or Eflin, but he could absolutely fill the final spot in the rotation if Matt Moore falters. Anderson is a lefty just like Moore, so the Phillies would still be able to keep a consistent number of southpaws in rotation too. Dave Dombrowski could very well say that the team trusts their starting pitching as is and stand pat, but if they look to improve the rotation, Anderson is a prime candidate.

• Michael A. Taylor, OF, KC

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  In May, Michael A. Taylor would have been an absolute no brainer acquisition for the Phillies considering the team’s abysmal center field play. Any available major league center fielder would have been an upgrade. Now, however, it seems that Odubel Herrera has stabilized that position to some extent, which makes this move a little trickier. The contract for Taylor is cheap, just $1.75m that expires after this year, but the production is enticing considering the cost; he’s slashing .238/.292/.363 with 8 homers and 31 RBIs. Taylor wouldn’t be brought in to start, but he would add some nice outfield depth in case of an injury and could provide a nice veteran bat off the bench that is more trustworthy than that of Travis Jankowski. If the idea is a bench bat for the Phils, Taylor could very well be the best option.

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