Dave Dombrowski made two key additions to the Philadelphia Phillies before the MLB Trade Deadline on July 30. Consider what the future Hall of Fame executive did, what he didn’t do, and how his decisions affect the pursuit of a World Series in 2024.
MLB Trade Deadline
The Phillies stormed out of the gates with an excellent two-month stretch in 2024 to build a substantial lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East.
However, underwhelming offensive production from the outfielders created an obvious trade deadline need. Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas showed obvious weaknesses. The Phillies started making calls about acquiring a right-handed outfield bat.
Rob Thomson chooses from a group of relievers with nasty stuff and strong playoff track records. However, virtually any major league bullpen can use reinforcements, especially considering the wear and tear of 162 games.
“You can still get better. That’s one area that I’ve always felt that you never have enough good bullpen arms, especially when you get into a shorter series at some point.” -Dave Dombrowski
Grading Phillies, Dombrowski
The debate over the availability of top prospects Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, and Justin Crawford raged hot in Philadelphia. Could Dombrowski fill the needs properly without sacrificing the farm system?
The Phillies didn’t land crown jewels of the MLB Trade Deadline. Luis Robert Jr. and Garrett Crochet stayed with the Chicago White Sox. Randy Arozarena and Jazz Chisholm went to American League playoff contenders.
Instead, welcome Austin Hays, Carlos Estevez, and Tanner Banks to Citizens Bank Park.
Are the acquisitions enough to patch the vulnerabilities of a loaded roster? Will the newest Phillies enter franchise folklore as the final pieces to a World Series roster?
Acquiring Austin Hays
Phillies Get: Austin Hays
Baltimore Orioles Get: Seranthony Dominguez, Cristian PacheThe conversation about acquiring a right-handed hitting outfielder buzzed after Whit Merrifield faded out of favor.
Luis Robert Jr. and Randy Arozarena looked like prizes at the top of the market. Lane Thomas, Taylor Ward, and Mark Canha looked like solid lineup depth options to platoon with Brandon Marsh.
Dave Dombrowski acquired a player on very few people’s radar instead. Austin Hays fits the need as a righty with better offensive numbers than Johan Rojas.
“I’m going to give him (Hays) an opportunity to be an everyday guy. We’ll see what he does. I think with all the left-handed hitters they’ve got in Baltimore, he didn’t get a chance to play every single day… We think that may have taken away some of the numbers against right-handed pitching, so I’m going to let him go. This guy was an All-Star last year, so it’s going to cut into Rojas’ time a little bit.” -Rob Thomson
The Phillies surprisingly won’t start him in a platoon role. They’ll primarily use Brandon Marsh in center field with Rojas rotating in.
Hays has performed like an everyday player at times during his career, especially during the first half of 2023. He’ll have the opportunity to validate the Phillies’ belief that he was the odd man out of a loaded lineup for the Orioles.
The Orioles will conversely look at Seranthony Dominguez as the odd man out of a loaded Phillies bullpen. The trade between two contenders provides the opportunity to make both teams better immediately.
The decision by Dombrowski to include two roster players four days ahead of the deadline maintained his flexibility to use prospect capital to make an additional move. It didn’t drastically affect another team need either, as Dominguez had slipped out of favor in high-leverage relief innings.
Grade: B
Acquiring Carlos Estevez
Phillies Get: Carlos Estevez
Los Angeles Angels Get: Minor League Pitchers George Klassen, Sam AldegheriThe signs clearly indicated a move for a bullpen arm after the Phillies traded Dominguez. Dombrowski struck one day later to acquire a player he considers “one of the best relievers in baseball” over the past year.
Right-hander Carlos Estevez has saved 20 games in 23 opportunities in 2024. He posted a 2.38 ERA in 34 games, and his 0.74 WHIP ranks third among qualified MLB relievers. Estevez has walked just three batters all season (unintentionally).
“He’s got an above average fastball. He’s got a plus slider. He’s a bulldog on the mound. He’s a guy that has developed a change-up.” -Dave Dombrowski
The Phillies haven’t used a designated closer for most of Rob Thomson’s tenure. However, they’ll give Estevez the opportunity to pitch mostly in the ninth inning and prove that he deserves the ball in the most critical postseason spots.
Dombrowski himself admitted that the prospect package he sent to the Angels was steep for a rental who will hit free agency at the end of the season. However, the veteran executive set his mind on finding the best pitcher to help the Phillies win a World Series in 2024.
“The reality comes down, for me, we wanted the best guy to give us a chance we felt to win this year. There might’ve been some guys that maybe we could’ve gotten from (the benefit of) control but we didn’t think were as good (of) pitchers to win in the postseason… We just felt he’s the right guy.” -Dave Dombrowski
Despite his admission of a pricey return, Dombrowski still held onto the three prospects that dominated the conversation in a top-heavy system.
Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, and Justin Crawford unquestionably came up in discussions this July, but all three remain with the Phillies through the deadline.
Mark Feinsand pointed out that the lucrative price of the Tanner Scott trade and the heightened price of relievers after Dombrowski’s move on July 27 should color the perception.
Grade: B+
Acquiring Tanner Banks
Phillies Get: Tanner Banks
Chicago White Sox Get: Minor League Infielder William BergollaThe Phillies made a second bullpen addition by acquiring Tanner Banks from the Chicago White Sox with minutes remaining before the deadline.
The 32-year-old could play a role as left-handed specialist during Red October. He made his major league debut at age 30 in 2022, and he’s posted a 3.89 career ERA in 108 career appearances.
Lefties have hit just .184 against Banks in 2024 while righties have hit .308. The Phillies will have some opportunities for a lefty after the decision to move Gregory Soto.
William Bergolla was ranked 10th in the Phillies system before the trade.
Grade: B+
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Gregory Soto Traded
Phillies Get: Minor League Pitchers Seth Johnson and Moises Chace
Baltimore Orioles Get: Gregory SotoNews broke after the 6pm deadline that the Phillies dealt away Gregory Soto to join Dominguez and Craig Kimbrel in Baltimore.
Why didn’t it work out for Soto after coming over from the Detroit Tigers before the 2023 season?
“He pitched overall okay when you look at his numbers. We didn’t necessarily get him as a closer. I think a lot of times he envisions himself as a closer, which is fine… The way that we use our pen, I’m just not sure that it ever was a way that he felt comfortable in that regard.” -Dave Dombrowski
The bullpen remodel comes at a point in the season when the unit is collectively in a slump. Rob Thomson has emphasized the need to throw strikes, and Soto had some wild outings in high-leverage situations leading up to the trade.
He never slotted perfectly into a role in a bullpen that seems to collectively wrap their heads around the rotation Thomson uses.
Dombrowski projected Seth Johnson as a starting pitcher. The 25-year-old former first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays has worked his way back from Tommy John surgery.
Moises Chace is a 21-year-old “developing pitcher” in high A.
The two additions helped Dombrowski recoup the loss of prospect pitching depth, although he pointed out that the Phillies did not target pitchers over position players because of a specific need.
Johnson slots as Philadelphia’s 10th ranked prospect, and Chace comes in at 25th.
Grade: B-
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Subtractions
Seranthony Dominguez is the biggest immediate loss to the organization. The Dominican fireballer had spent his only six MLB seasons with the Phillies prior to the deal. He came up in 2018 and saved 16 games with flashes of shutdown closer potential.
Although Jeff Hoffman had seized the role as the primary right-handed relief option, Dominguez owned arguably the best postseason track record in the Phillies bullpen.
The self-admitted costly package of George Klassen and Sam Aldegheri won’t help Dombrowski’s trade deadline grade.
However, the two-time world champion ultimately kept the aggressive strategy of a World Series contender without trading any of the three prospects in a supposedly top-heavy farm system that dominated the headlines leading up to the MLB Trade Deadline.
Pache might not have lasted until the postseason on the active roster. Including him as a sweetener meant value that could’ve disappeared quickly after the deadline anyway.
Soto’s sudden departure wasn’t necessarily expected, but it does make sense given the trade for Tanner Banks as a potential left-handed specialist.
Grade: B-
Improving A World Series Outlook
Dave Dombrowski might’ve stopped at B-level additions, but he didn’t need A-level additions. A lineup with Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and company has enough firepower to carry the Phillies to the World Series.
If the Phillies don’t score enough runs during the playoffs, don’t blame the lack of a big trade deadline acquisition.
“The superstars got to show up.” -Bryce Harper
Dombrowski instead added around the margins to offset the perceived weaknesses of a legitimate World Series contender. He maintained the aggressive championship attitude by selling high on minor league prospects and emphasizing 2024 rather than club control or building a farm system.
None of the moves blew anyone out of the water, but they all came together to make the roster look more formidable than it did a week before the deadline.
A bench bat or a depth starter might’ve provided more marginal upgrades, but they weren’t comparable priorities to the outfield bat and bullpen help.
The Phillies have as good of a chance to win the World Series as any MLB team. Austin Hays, Carlos Estevez, and Tanner Banks might not be the primary reasons for that, but they only add to a team that’s been focused on a singular goal all season.
“I think just the way we played earlier in the season, if we had stood pat, I think that’s a team that has a chance to win a world championship. We’ve just made ourselves better. I feel good about this club.” -Rob Thomson
Grade: A-
