The Philadelphia Phillies have managed to steady themselves after a shaky start to the season and once again look like a legitimate playoff threat. However, a major concern still lingers in the rotation — starting pitcher Andrew Painter.
Painter entered 2025 as the top prospect in the Phillies’ system, but his first season in the majors has been a struggle. Across 13 appearances, including 11 starts, he owns a 6.43 ERA. He’s allowing 1.7 home runs per nine innings while striking out just 7.1 batters per nine, numbers that fall well short of expectations.
The advanced metrics paint an even bleaker picture. Analytical data shows Painter ranking near the bottom of the league in overall pitching effectiveness. His fastball has been especially problematic, grading among the worst in baseball, while his breaking and offspeed pitches have only been marginally better. The issues are not isolated to one pitch — they span his entire arsenal.
Because of those struggles, it’s no surprise that rumors have surfaced suggesting the Phillies may look for a short-term replacement. The trade deadline presents the clearest opportunity to address the problem, and several veteran options could be available.
One name that has surfaced as a possible target is veteran right-hander Sonny Gray. Early in the season, both Boston and Philadelphia dealt with disappointing starts that resulted in managerial firings. While the Phillies responded positively, Boston continued to slide, increasing the likelihood of a sell-off.
Gray, now 36, wouldn’t make the Phillies any younger, but he could fit a win-now approach. In his first season with Boston after an offseason trade, he has been effective, posting a 3.03 ERA through 12 starts. His pitching style has evolved, relying less on a traditional four-seam fastball and leaning more heavily on his cutter. That change has led to an increase in ground balls while he continues to command the strike zone despite diminished velocity.
Although Boston paid a notable price to acquire him, Gray’s contract makes him a likely rental. He’s earning $11 million this season and has a mutual option worth $30 million for a future year — a figure that strongly suggests he’ll reach free agency instead. Any team acquiring him would be doing so with the short term in mind, hoping he can provide stability down the stretch and into the postseason.
Pursuing a pitcher of Gray’s caliber would reflect just how aggressive the Phillies want to be in shaping a rotation capable of making a deep playoff run.
Still, the best-case scenario for Philadelphia doesn’t involve a trade at all. Ideally, Painter finds his footing and earns the team’s trust in the second half of the season.
Painter believes he knows what needs to change. For him, it starts with improved command and a more aggressive mindset. Early walks have put him in difficult situations, forcing him to pitch from behind in counts and leading to damaging mistakes. He has emphasized the need to attack hitters, throw more strikes, and avoid falling into trouble before settling in.
The recent results have been discouraging, as he’s allowed five home runs over his last three starts. Prior to that stretch, however, he appeared to be turning a corner, giving up just five total runs across three outings. If he can return to that level of performance, Painter may still be able to salvage his rookie season — and eliminate the Phillies’ need to look elsewhere for help.