Call to the pen
Fansided

Philadelphia Phillies Trade Deadline Preview

By Benno Martens

Jun 15, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (58) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 15, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (58) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Untouchables

Jun 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) hits a single against Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning of a 7-0 win at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) hits a single against Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning of a 7-0 win at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Let’s get this out of the way first. Under nearly no circumstances should Philadelphia be trading away the cornerstones of its young core in Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco, Velasquez, Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff, or any of the top prospects it has waiting in the minors. It should take a king’s ransom to pry any of them away, and that’s highly unlikely to happen.

Herrera, who was a Rule 5 draft pick after the 2014 season, is following up a solid rookie season with all-star caliber play in 2016. The center fielder has a slash line of .309/.410/.428 with a 1.9 bWAR that is second on the team.

Franco has struggled some, amassing a -0.3 bWAR thus far this year, but has shown flashes of middle of the order pop in his bat with team-highs of 11 homers and 33 RBIs.

Shortstop J.P. Crawford, the organization’s 2013 first round draft pick and top prospect, is also waiting in the wings, and could find himself in the City of Brotherly Love very soon.

The young pitching that got the Phillies through its hot start has the potential to rival the staffs of the Mets and Nationals in a year or two. Eickhoff, Nola, and Velasquez are cornerstones that have combined for 4.7 bWAR.

With top prospects such as Zach Eflin, Ben Lively, Jake Thompson, and Mark Appel, they form a stable of arms on the starting bump and out of the bullpen that could develop into one of baseball’s most dominant.

Philadelphia also had a 2016 draft that was roundly applauded, including outfielder and No. 1 overall pick Mickey Moniak, second rounder Kevin Gowdy, a high school right-handed pitcher, and third round shortstop Cole Stobbe, widely considered a steal after he fell slightly.

The rebuilding effort is off to a great start, and any moves the Phillies make at this year’s deadline should serve to enhance it, not mortgage it.

Next: So who is on the block?

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