Rumor: Phillies eying Guardians starting pitcher ahead of trade deadline
The Philadelphia Phillies reportedly have Guardians SP Zach Plesac “on their radar” ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, according to Jon Heyman.
Zach Plesac made his MLB debut in 2019, going 8-6 over 21 starts and 115.2 innings pitched with the Guardians with a 3.81 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. His best season in the big leagues came last year when he went 10-6 with a 4.67 ERA in 142 innings pitched.
So far this season, Zach Plesac is just 2-8 with a 4.09 ERA over 18 starts. He’s pitched a total of 99 innings with 72 strikeouts and a 1.26 WHIP. Plesac is throwing for a Guardians team who is 50-48 on the year, holding the second place spot in the NL Central, trailing the Twins by just two games.
Starting pitching is the Phillies’ #1 priority heading into the deadline, especially with Zach Eflin’s return to the field unknown. The team has already been linked to a few names, including a veteran starter from the Los Angeles Angels.
Zach Plesac isn’t a flashy name, but judging by the comments Dave Dombrowski made last week to the media, the fact that his name is now mentioned as linked to the Phillies is exactly what fans should have expected. There are several reports stating what Dombrowski said last week. The Phillies have signaled to other clubs that their top three pitching prospects in Painter, Abel, and McGarry are not available, nor should they be.
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The Phillies finally have an organizational plan in place and there’s no reason to sacrifice three consensuses MLB Top 100 prospects at the deadline.
These are the names to keep an eye on as the deadline approaches on August 2nd. It’s pretty clear that the Phillies won’t be making any huge splash but will for sure attempt to acquire a middle-to-end of the rotation starter.
Up Next for the Phillies
Bailey Falter gets the ball tonight at 7:05 in Pittsburgh as the Phils look to win their third game in a row.
