Could the Tigers’ Trade Bait Be a Worthwhile Upgrade for the Phillies’ Rotation?
The Phillies’ rotation has been facing significant challenges recently. Would acquiring Tigers starter Jack Flaherty be the key to turning their season around? Beyond their offensive struggles, the Phillies’ starters, including multiple All-Stars, have encountered rough patches. Meanwhile, other teams are starting to consider selling and regrouping. Recently, the Detroit Tigers announced their intention to be sellers at the trade deadline on July 30.
Jack Flaherty, one of the potential trade pieces for Detroit, is generating buzz. The 28-year-old is having a strong season after signing a one-year deal in the offseason, boasting a 7-5 record with a 2.95 ERA and 133 strikeouts over 106 2/3 innings. With free agency looming, Flaherty is certainly maximizing his contract year.
Would acquiring Jack Flaherty from the Tigers actually improve the Phillies’ rotation? According to MLB Network insider Jon Morosi, the Phillies have discussed Flaherty as a potential upgrade. It’s unclear if these discussions are internal or if the Phillies have contacted the Tigers about a trade. Despite Flaherty’s solid performance, he would likely be a mid-tier rotation upgrade, making it hard to justify trading top prospects like Andrew Painter or Aidan Miller for a short-term rental. A more feasible trade package might involve Mick Abel and other lower-level prospects.
The Phillies’ rotation has been far from perfect, struggling particularly at the fifth spot with Taijuan Walker’s poor performance and Spencer Turnbull on the IL. Acquiring someone like Flaherty could alleviate pressure on Zack Wheeler and the rest of the rotation.
Other names on the market could excite Phillies fans more, with potential big moves at the deadline. Players like Luis Robert Jr. and Tarik Skubal would be significant acquisitions for the stretch run. The key question remains: would trading for Flaherty be enough to propel the Phillies to success?
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