Time to Talk Trades

The MLB trade deadline is Aug. 31, and unless the Phillies get better in a hurry, they should sell, sell, sell. The Phils are 5-9 and dead last in the NL East. 

I'd start listening to offers for all-world catcher JT Realmuto. There are no indications the team has made any kind of offer to JT, so they might as well send him someplace and get something in return and take a chance on signing him in the off-season. San Diego would be a perfect destination for him and the Padres minor league system has some of the best talent around. It's worth considering. I love JT and want him to be a Phillie forever, but you have to wonder if he wants to be part of this underachieving organization.

Andrew McCutchen could be trade bait, if he wasn't hitting .167 with a .425 OPS. But the most logical choice to me is Jay Bruce, who is mashing with a .924 OPS in a part-time role. Dealing Bruce would get you something in return. And if another team asks about Vince Velasquez, I'll personally drive him to the airport. 

(Image from The New Yorker)