Phillies: 3 Trade Targets With Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds center fielder Tyler Naquin (12) hits a three-run home run in the first inning during a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, May 21, 2021, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.Milwaukee Brewers At Cincinnati Reds May 21
Cincinnati Reds center fielder Tyler Naquin (12) hits a three-run home run in the first inning during a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, May 21, 2021, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.Milwaukee Brewers At Cincinnati Reds May 21
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Heath Hembree, RP

The 32-year-old relief pitcher could make a return to his 2020 team; the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies have some good relievers who are performing up to expectations but they also have two or three relievers that have fundamentally not pitched to expectations at all; Archie Bradley and Brandon Kintzler. In a win-now mode, the Phillies must solidify the bullpen if they expect to make the playoffs and advance in the playoffs. Hembree could be a cheap, one-year option to patch up part of the middle relief in the Phillies bullpen. Hembree is currently playing on a minor league contract so contract mitigation will be nonexistent in a trade.

After a disappointing 2020, Hembree is back to his regular form. His strikeouts per nine innings dipped below double digits for the first time in five years in 2020 but Hembree has brought that ratio back to 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Impressively, Hembree has decreased his WHIP from 1.789 in 2020 to .628 in 2021. These numbers are impressive and Hembree may not be able to keep it up throughout the entire season but staying close to a .628 WHIP for an entire season is only beneficial to his team.

With Archie Bradley and Brandon Kintzler consistently struggling, Hembree would solidify the middle innings bridging to a solid end of bullpen including Ranger Suarez and Hector Neris.