The Phillies have lived off the strength of their starting rotation for years. In 2025, the Phillies’ rotation had the second-best ERA in baseball (3.53), the best FIP (3.40), and the highest fWAR (21.5).
Christopher Sanchez emerged as a Cy Young candidate. Ranger Suarez was once again a dependable, low-3s ERA starter. Jesus Luzardo dealt with a pitch-tipping blip over two starts in June to still have an ERA under 4. Zack Wheeler was shut down in August due to venous thoracic outlet syndrome, but before that, he had posted a 2.71 ERA over 24 starts.
The rotation thinned out a little as 2026 approached. Wheeler was out for the start of the season recovering from injury, and Suarez signed with Boston in free agency. However, the rotation remains the primary strength, and so far Sanchez and Wheeler have held up their end of the bargain. The former has pitched better than he ever has and is emerging as a potential Cy Young candidate. Meanwhile, the latter has posted a 2.22 ERA in nine starts since returning from the injured list.
But Jesus Luzardo has provided mixed results this year. Aaron Nola has struggled immensely. And coveted rookie Andrew Painter has so far failed to live up to the hype he entered the year with. Now, fans have been left to wonder whether he would be better served by spending time in Triple-A. This would allow him to regain some confidence and refine his stuff.
Sanchez and Wheeler have been dominant all year, and there’s evidence Luzardo could turn the corner and return to form (top 20 among starters in FIP and fWAR, highest BABIP and tied fourth-highest difference in ERA vs. FIP). But these aces can’t be expected to do so forever.
The Phillies likely need more rotational depth, and with them just holding onto a Wild Card spot right now, they don’t have the luxury to wait until the trade deadline to address these issues. Luckily, there’s no shortage of options available to them.
Reinforcements in the Minor Leagues
Some of Philly’s best pitching prospects are still in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Regardless, that doesn’t mean they don’t have options. Alan Rangel stands as their best choice. Rangel pitched the final three innings of a 7-2 loss to the Cubs earlier this year and appeared in five games for the team in 2025, posting a 2.45 ERA over 11 innings. With Lehigh Valley this year, Rangel has a 3.73 ERA in 12 games (9 starts) and has struck out 25.6% of batters while walking 9.2%.
Bryse Wilson is likely next in line. An MLB veteran of eight seasons, Wilson’s 6.29 ERA through 12 games (11 starts) appears uninspiring. However, his strikeout and walk numbers are not too dissimilar from Rangel’s (23.0 K%, 8.1 BB%). His league-worst .382 BABIP is also indicative of poor batted-ball luck, though that doesn’t mean his struggles can be chalked up to luck alone.
Other reinforcements in Triple-A who have provided serviceable results include southpaw Chuck King (8 games, 4.63 ERA, 1 HR allowed in 35 innings) and former Yankees minor leaguer Brian Keller (3 games, 4.35 ERA).
A prospect like Gage Wood or Jean Cabrera could potentially get a call-up, too. However, Wood has yet to throw more than four innings in any of his starts this year, while Cabrera started the year at AAA before struggling to a 9.37 ERA in seven starts, leading to a demotion back to Double-A.
Options on the Open Market
Could a mid-season free agent signing provide some value?
Several MLB veterans remain unsigned on the open market. Notable players include those still rehabbing from injuries, such as Jon Gray (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome), Nestor Cortes (arm surgery for a tendon tear), and Tony Gonsolin (elbow surgery).
The Phillies would have to wait until after the All-Star break for these players to be MLB options. But each pitcher has a successful track record, which could make them worth the wait. Gonsolin was a 2022 All-Star; Gray pitched 4.2 scoreless innings during the 2023 World Series; and Cortes pitched to a 3.33 ERA from 2021-2024 as a full-time member of the Yankees’ rotation.
For healthy rotation options, Marcus Stroman and Tyler Anderson are available. Stroman struggled badly in 2025, posting a 6.23 ERA in nine starts before being released. As recently as 2024, he posted a serviceable 4.31 ERA over 154.2 innings. Anderson posted a middling 4.56 ERA last year but was still dependable, making 26 starts and pitching 136.1 innings.
If the Phillies chose to sign someone from the free agent market, they would not be ready right away. They would likely get a couple of weeks to work at the team’s Spring Training complex in Florida, then pitch a few games in the minor leagues before being called up. However, they would provide the team with more depth going forward.
A Trade Before the Deadline?
Significant trades don’t happen often before Trade Deadline season in late July, but that’s not to say they never do. On May 21, 2021, shortstop Willy Adames was traded by the Rays to the Brewers for two pitchers. Adames would go on to hit 107 homers in Milwaukee, while Drew Rasmussen, one of the pitchers acquired by the Rays, has become a key rotation member.
On May 4, 2024, the Padres acquired Luis Arraez from the Marlins. Arraez would go on to win another batting title and appear in the All-Star Game that year for San Diego. Last year, on June 15, the Red Sox and Giants pulled off a shocking pre-deadline blockbuster, sending Rafael Devers from Boston to the Bay Area.
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com noted a few possible trade candidates for this deadline who have been performing well recently. Among the starting options are Sonny Gray (Boston), Reid Detmers (Angels), and Joe Ryan (Twins).
With the Tigers’ struggles this year and Tarik Skubal’s looming free agency, one of baseball’s best pitchers may be available at the deadline. The package for him would be substantial, and it would mortgage a great deal of the future for a likely rental pitcher. But he would make the trio of himself, Cristopher Sanchez, and Zack Wheeler one of the best in recent memory.
How Do Things Around the Standings Look Now?
When looking at the current standings right now, the Tigers and Angels are more than five games out of the last Wild Card spot in the American League. In the National League, the Mets, Giants, and Rockies are the teams over five games out. That means that teams will be less incentivized to make a deal now. A good stretch late in June or early July could spring a slumping team back into playoff position.
These kinds of deals have happened in the past, so it’s never out of the question. Whatever avenue the Phillies choose to go down, there’s still a surprising number of options at their disposal. They’ll be able to rely on Sanchez and Wheeler to carry much of the load along the way. Luzardo has shown his best stuff on occasion this year as well. If the rest of the rotation can continue to tread water until the deadline, they’ll be in good hands.
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