As 2nd half opens, Phils' Deadline needs coming into focus

PHILADELPHIA -- No matter how the past four postseasons unfolded for the Phillies, they still believe they have the talent to win the World Series.

They started this season 9-19, which led to Rob Thomson’s firing on April 28. But since Don Mattingly became interim manager, the Phillies are tied with the Brewers for the best record in the Major Leagues since at 45-24.

The Phillies are a good team. But no team is perfect. They have holes to fill. They could use a reliever or two, especially with uncertainty surrounding Brad Keller’s return and continued struggles from left-handers like Jose Alvarado, Tanner Banks and Kyle Backhus.

The Phils could use a No. 5 starter, especially if Andrew Painter doesn’t right the ship with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. They could use a right-handed bat, which is a hole they have tried to fill in each of the previous two Trade Deadlines with Austin Hays (2025) and Harrison Bader (2025), as well as the previous two offseasons with Max Kepler (2024-25) and Adolis García (2025-26).

“I mean, I think you know what we need, what we’re good at and what we’re not good at right now,” Bryce Harper said Monday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. “Obviously [managing partner] John [Middleton] wants to win. He's going to put all his chips in where he needs to, but he's going to be smart about our future as well. I've said this to you guys before. Obviously, I like the future of our organization and we need our future, but you’ve got to try to win as well. So whatever that looks like, I think [president of baseball operations] Dave [Dombrowski’s] going to do a great job, or I hope he does, and get the things that we need.”

It will be a challenge this year. The Phillies’ farm system is not particularly deep, with few blue-chip prospects, at least in the eyes of some talent evaluators. If they want a big piece, they might have to include No. 2 prospect Gage Wood.

Would they do that? It depends on the player, of course.

It should make for an absolutely fascinating Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.

“I'm not worried at all about the Trade Deadline,” Mattingly said. “You know, I would go into the second half with our club right now and be feeling OK about it.”

• Record at the break: 54-43 (Second in NL East, two games back)
• Record at the break last year: 55-41 (First in NL East, 1/2 game lead)
• Playoff odds: 86% (per FanGraphs)
• Remaining Strength of Schedule: .514 (fourth-highest winning percentage in MLB)

Biggest need
Phillies fans might think they need a right-handed bat, because the team hasn’t scored enough runs since Game 2 of the 2023 NLCS. But the bullpen also faltered in each of the previous three Octobers, and the way it’s looking now, they absolutely will need at least one more late-inning, high-leverage reliever to bridge the gap between the rotation and closer Jhoan Duran.

Biggest chip
Wood, if teams are looking for a big-time talent who is healthy and close to big league ready. The Phillies’ first-round pick in the 2025 Draft is pitching for Double-A Reading. The Phillies are thin after Wood, though. Top prospect Aidan Miller remains sidelined with an injured back. He hasn’t played since last season and there is no timetable for his return.

Key player for second half
It’s Keller, or Alvarado, or even Orion Kerkering. The Phillies need to see more from their late-inning relievers if they want to avoid more crushing late-inning losses in October. Mattingly said he feels good about his “plus” guys in the bullpen, especially if the rotation pitches well in the second half.

Determining factor
If Trea Turner and Alec Bohm hit in July, it could convince the Phillies’ front office to throw their prospect capital into pitching. Because, really, no right-handed bat the Phillies can afford seems likely to reshape their offense. They need the players already on the roster to live up to expectations and potential.