On paper, the Philadelphia Phillies boast a roster capable of winning the 2025 World Series.
However, championships aren’t secured in May, and as the season unfolds, some weaknesses are beginning to show—issues that may need to be addressed before the July 31 MLB Trade Deadline.
Unlike many teams, the Phillies’ concerns don’t begin with the starting rotation. In fact, they currently carry six starters on the active roster, anchored by last year’s Cy Young runner-up Zack Wheeler. If Ranger Suárez can regain form after an early-season injury, the team’s rotation is deep enough that one of those arms could potentially shift to a bullpen that’s in need of reinforcements.
While the back end of the bullpen—featuring Jose Alvarado, Tanner Banks, and Matt Strahm—is reliable, the group overall needs more depth. As of May 13, Philadelphia’s bullpen ranks 22nd in ERA and 25th in opponents’ batting average. Starters are averaging between five and six innings per outing, which is solid, but it still leaves a significant number of innings for the bullpen to cover.
Offensively, the Phillies may be wise to exercise patience. Underperforming areas—such as the outfield, which has managed just 11 home runs over 41 games—feature players with established track records, suggesting a rebound could be on the horizon.
With the trade deadline still a few months away, here’s an early look at potential trade targets the Phillies might consider.
The Phillies may need a third baseman to replace Alec Bohm
Alec Bohm has arguably been the Phillies’ most underperforming position player so far in 2025. Just a year removed from his first All-Star appearance, he’s managed only one home run and carries a .618 OPS. Advanced metrics from both FanGraphs and Baseball Reference rate him as a below replacement-level player.
While there’s still time for Bohm to rebound, the Phillies could consider external options if he doesn’t turn things around. One potential target is veteran infielder Luis Urías, who’s thriving on a one-year deal with the Athletics. Urías has appeared in 29 of Oakland’s 41 games and posted an impressive .829 OPS.
The complication is that the A’s, at 21-20 and just 1.5 games out of first in the AL West, might not be looking to sell. But with much of the season still ahead, their stance could change.
The Phillies can also benefit from another outfield bat
The outfield trade market might offer more options than third base, but the Phillies’ plans there are even murkier right now. Brandon Marsh returned from injury on May 3 and has performed well in his seven games since (.414 batting average, 3 doubles), though his overall numbers remain low—just a .186 average and one home run on the season.
As a group, Phillies outfielders rank 23rd in MLB with a 94 wRC+, 19th in slugging percentage at .383, and 22nd in wOBA at .307.
The issue is, there might not be a clear-cut outfield power bat available to fill the void, meaning the Phillies may have to take a gamble. Luis Robert Jr., for example, has underwhelmed this year with a .186 average and a 78 OPS+, and while his 15 stolen bases offer some value, he has just eight extra-base hits. It’s hard to argue that he’s a sure solution for Philly’s outfield.
Then again, maybe he is. Robert is only two years removed from a 38-homer campaign with the White Sox in 2023, and he hit 40 total home runs over the two prior seasons despite playing only 166 games. With Kevin Long—one of the game’s top hitting coaches—on staff, it might be worth seeing if he can help Robert rediscover his form.
Steven Matz can return to the NL East
The Phillies are in need of bullpen reinforcement to help navigate the middle innings, and who better to fill that role than a reliever who’s been lights-out this season, can handle multiple innings, and knows the NL East well?
Steven Matz, now with the St. Louis Cardinals and formerly a Met, has posted a stellar 1.35 ERA over 11 outings in 2025 — nine of them in relief. He’s demonstrated excellent command, issuing just three walks in 26.2 innings. While Phillies relievers have surrendered 17 home runs so far, Matz has yet to give up one.
Set to become a free agent after the season, Matz would be a cost-effective rental. Plus, the Cardinals have a deep bullpen and could be open to dealing from that depth — if they decide to sell.