The MLB Trade Deadline is approaching on August 1st and the Philadelphia Phillies look will almost certainly be looking to add a few pieces to their lineup and pitching staff. 

Under the cover of darkness last night, the Los Angeles Angels basically told everyone that they would be buyers at the deadline, acquiring starting pitcher Lucas Giolito from the Chicago White Sox.

The Angels are just 4.5 games out of an American League Wild Card spot and are now focused in making a run at the postseason. Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, and everyone else on the Angels will remain in Anaheim until at least the end of the 2023 season. 

According to MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand, the Phillies are among five teams scouting Detroit Tigers left handed started Eduardo Rodriguez. E-Rod currently holds a 2.95 ERA and a 6-5 record for the Tigers this season. 

Rodriguez was having a stellar first half, posting a 2.13 ERA in 11 starts when a left index finger injury landed him on the injured list for five weeks from late-May to early-July. Since his return, Rodriguez has pitched four times, producing two good starts and two subpar outings, though his 3.23 FIP in July suggests he’s pitched better than his 5.66 ERA this month suggests.

“He’s not the best starter available, but he’s been pretty good this year,” a National League executive said. “He would help a lot of rotations out there.”

The biggest question surrounding Rodriguez is whether he plans to opt out of the final three years and $49 million of his contract at the end of the season. The opt-out clause could complicate trade scenarios for some clubs, because while most expect Rodriguez to exercise the clause to become a free agent, any acquiring team would be taking on his contract without knowing that for certain. [MLB.com]

Listen, whenever you have the chance to add another rotation arm to an already strong starting five, you do just that. E-Rod, a veteran starter with a solid resume would be a great addition to their depth and could easily slide in as the No. 3 starter behind Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. 

Plus, we have already seen how Ranger Suarez can be utilized in the postseason given the fact that he pitched all over the place during last year’s run to the World Series. Adding Suarez and Sanchez as bullpen pieces behind a Wheeler-Nola-Rodriguez-Walker rotation would be the best possible way to enter Red October. 

Phillies Starting Rotation with Eduardo Rodriguez 

1. Zack Wheeler
2. Aaron Nola
3. Eduardo Rodriguez
4. Ranger Suarez
5. Taijuan Walker 

Offensively, the Phillies should 100% go after former MVP Cody Bellinger. Over at The Athletic, Jim Bowden seems to agree. 

Cubs trade CF Cody Bellinger to Phillies for OF Gabriel Rincones Jr. and OF Carlos De La Cruz

The Cubs are hot, so perhaps they buy, but let’s still consider a selling option. Bellinger is the front-runner for NL Comeback Player of the Year. He’s having a resurgence this season on the North Side of Chicago, slashing .314/.360/.545 with 15 home runs, 12 stolen bases and a 141 OPS+. He plays above-average defense at several positions and would fit nicely on the Phillies as he could share first base, left field and DH with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. He would be the final position piece needed for the Phillies to get back to the playoffs.

Yes, the Cubs are only 6 games back in the division and 4 1/2 back in the wild-card race, but Bellinger is going to be an expensive free agent, and in the long term, one could argue Chicago is better off trading him now and then trying to re-sign him in the offseason. (If they don’t trade Bellinger, they could make him a qualifying offer after the season and receive draft-pick compensation should he sign elsewhere in free agency.) In this trade proposal, the Cubs would strengthen their farm system by adding two legitimate outfield prospects. A third-round pick in the 2022 draft, Rincones has a .357 on-base percentage this season between Low A and High A. De La Cruz has hit 18 homers and posted an .855 OPS at Double A. Earlier this season, the 23-year-old put together a 38-game on-base streak. [The Athletic]

Cody Bellinger over 21 Games in July: .415 BA, 34 H, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 19 R

If the Phillies want to get crazy and handle the Trade Deadline while dealing with just a single team, then grab Bellinger and throw in Marcus Stroman as a starting pitcher. Stroman has a record of 10-7 with an ERA of 3.51 and 109 strikeouts in 22 appearances this season.

Make a deal with the Cubs. Get Belly and Stro. One shot. Win the World Series. Boom. Done.

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