As the July 31 MLB trade deadline approaches, the Philadelphia Phillies might be able to take care of two big needs—strengthening their bullpen and boosting their outfield offense—in one major move. According to a bold trade idea from MLB insider Jon Heyman (New York Post), the Phillies could make a huge splash by swinging a deal with the Baltimore Orioles that brings three proven stars to Philly.
The names involved? Center fielder Cedric Mullins, elite closer Félix Bautista, and reliable lefty reliever Gregory Soto—all of them former All-Stars. In return, the Phillies would give up two of their pitching prospects: Mick Abel, a highly ranked right-handed starter who’s No. 5 in the organization and 86th overall in MLB’s top prospect list, and Jean Cabrera, another talented right-hander ranked 12th in the system.
Heyman admits this kind of trade might upset Orioles fans—especially if they lose Bautista, who’s become a dominant force in the late innings. But he argues that Abel is such a valuable prospect that it could be worth it for Baltimore. As for the Phillies, they’re in a position to part with Abel because they’ve got another top young pitcher, Andrew Painter, expected to return soon and join an already excellent starting rotation.
Another reason this proposed deal works well for Philly: they wouldn’t have to trade away their very best young talent, like Aidan Miller or Justin Crawford, which likely would’ve been necessary in a deal with the Cleveland Guardians for players like Steven Kwan or Emmanuel Clase.
So, in short, the Phillies could make a single blockbuster trade that checks multiple boxes—without mortgaging their entire future.
Sure, getting Steven Kwan and Emmanuel Clase from the Guardians would be an even bigger win for the Phillies, but that kind of deal would cost a lot more in terms of prospects. Plus, it’s tough to imagine Cleveland actually letting go of Kwan—let alone Clase.
Instead, the Phillies could turn their attention to a more realistic and still very impactful option: a trade with the Orioles that brings in Félix Bautista, Cedric Mullins, and Gregory Soto.
Bautista would be the real centerpiece here. He’s exactly what the Phillies need in the back end of their bullpen—especially now that Jose Alvarado is out for 80 games due to a PED suspension and can’t pitch in the playoffs. Bautista has bounced back from Tommy John surgery and looks like his All-Star self again, with a 2.41 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings. He’s under team control through 2027, which makes him even more valuable.
Mullins, who was an All-Star in 2021, would help out in center field—a spot where the Phillies have struggled. Right now, Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas are splitting time there, but their combined stats rank near the bottom of the league. Mullins, who becomes a free agent after this season, already has 13 home runs and a .713 OPS in 79 games, making him a clear upgrade.
Then there’s Soto. He used to be an All-Star with the Tigers, but since being traded to Baltimore (ironically from Philly), he hasn’t been the same. His numbers have dipped, with a 4.21 ERA and a high WHIP, and he didn’t perform much better during his last stint with the Phillies either. Still, as a lefty arm, he brings value and depth to the bullpen.
The bottom line? With the Phillies already loaded in their starting rotation, bringing in Bautista and Mullins would immediately strengthen two areas they’ll need to lean on in the postseason—relief pitching and center field offense.