Would Adding Trevor Bauer Make the Phillies a World Series Contender?

TORONTO, ON - JULY 23: Trevor Bauer #47 of the Cleveland Indians delivers a pitch in the first inning during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 23, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 23: Trevor Bauer #47 of the Cleveland Indians delivers a pitch in the first inning during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 23, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Phillies have had discussions with the Cleveland Indians about Trevor Bauer, but would he make the Phillies a World Series contender?

MLB.com’s J.P. Morosi reported on Wednesday that the Philadelphia Phillies and Indians have had discussions about a possible Trevor Bauer trade.

The Phillies are attempting to improve their rotation, which only has one starter with an ERA under 4 (Aaron Nola).

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Adding Trevor Bauer would be a huge boost because he has postseason experience including pitching in the 2016 World Series, always pitches deep into games, and doesn’t allow many runs so it would give the bullpen more rest.

But the Phillies bullpen has been bad the whole season and we all know that bullpens are what either wins or loses you games in October.

Closer Hector Neris didn’t pitch very well against the Dodgers this season and has a 4.01 ERA. David Robertson signed a 3-year deal in before the season but has been on the IL. Tommy Hunter is on the 10-day IL, and  Pat Neshek and Seranthony Dominguez are both on the 60-day IL.

I would be more concerned in getting bullpen help than I would be getting starting pitching help.

Philadelphia is sitting just outside of the second Wild Card spot, and are in third place in the National League East.

So, if they aren’t going to win the division then they are fighting for a one-game playoff. If they were to get into the one-game playoff, the Phillies would still have to win that game against Max Scherzer (if the Nationals make it) and then play the Los Angeles Dodgers in a five-game series without home-field advantage.

In matchups this season, the Phillies were 2-5 against the Dodgers.

Then, if they were to get past the Dodgers, which is highly unlikely, they would still have to get past either the Braves, Cubs, or Brewers who all have better bullpens than the Phillies.

I simply don’t envision the Phillies bullpen being able to get through the lineups of the Dodgers (Bellinger, Muncy, Turner) and then either the Braves (Freeman, Acuna Jr., Donaldson), Cubs (Baez, Bryant, Rizzo), or the Brewers (Cain, Yelich, Moustakas).

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Although acquiring Trevor Bauer would help the rotation, Philadelphia still wouldn’t be World Series contenders because of their inconsistent bullpen.