Philadelphia Phillies: 3 players to trade before the deadline
By David Hill
The 2021 season has been the same as each of the previous four years for the Philadelphia Phillies. They entered the season with high expectations, aiming for a playoff berth once again. But once again, they have failed to live up to those lofty goals.
Even though they have yet to reach the midpoint of their season, they are guaranteed a losing record over the first half of the year. The Phillies sit in fourth place in the NL East, and are essentially an afterthought in the chase for the Wild Card.
Three players for the Philadelphia Phillies to trade
As has been the case every year, the Phillies’ flawed roster has led to their downfall. They still need pieces in the bullpen, the back of the rotation is a mess, and the lineup is not nearly good enough to overcome those issues. However, that does not mean that they are devoid of talent, or players that could bring back pieces for the future. Should the Phillies decide to run the white flag on the season, they could be one of the more interesting teams at the trade deadline.
Let’s take a look at three players the Philadelphia Phillies could trade.
Vince Velasquez
Vince Velasquez may be the most maddening pitcher on the Philadephia Phillies roster. It certainly does not help that they do not quite know what to do with him.
After beginning his career as a starter, he has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen in each of the past three seasons. He has shown flashes of brilliance over the years, but has been unable to put together a sustained run where he lives up to his expectations when he first reached the majors.
The 2021 season has been a typical year for Velasquez. He has posted a 4.22 ERA and a 1.281 WHiP over his 64 innings, striking out 71 batters with 33 walks. Those numbers are just below average, much the same as his overall career has been.
It is entirely possible that a change of scenery will unlock his potential. Velasquez has the pure stuff to be a solid piece in either a rotation or a bullpen, but has not been able to do so in Philadephia. He would be a rental for the final few months of the season, but his stuff gives him the potential to be a solid addition.
Vince Velasquez has been unable to put everything together with the Philadelphia Phillies. However, he could be a reasonable gamble at the trade deadline.