MLB Mailbag: Phillies, Hancock, Padres, Prospects, Sellers

This week’s MLB Mailbag will feature questions on the Phillies’ myriad needs and thin farm system, who the Mariners could target if they’re really going to move Emerson Hancock, the Padres’ rotation needs, some post-deadline prospects to watch and some areas of need for current sellers to target on the trade market. (Note: Some questions lightly edited for clarity and brevity.)

Let’s dive in!

Robert asks:

The sweep in south Florida at the hands of the Marlins exposed the Phillies’ flaws, especially with respect to long relief, although that has apparently received little attention in the press. Given the number of speculative buyers at the trade deadline, the Phillies can’t be expected to address all their needs: right-handed hitting outfielder, a back-of-the-rotation starter, a long-relief arm, better defense on the left side of the infield. What would you do if you were Dave Dombrowski? What do you judge is actually realistic?

The Phillies have a top-heavy roster with clear needs, particularly on the pitching staff. Aaron Nola has pitched poorly. Andrew Painter, too, before being optioned earlier in the summer. There aren’t many better trios than Zack Wheeler/Cristopher Sanchez/Jesus Luzardo leading a big league rotation right now, but while that trio could theoretically dominate in a playoff series, they might not get the opportunity without another competent starter to give the team a chance every five days in the season’s final two months. The ‘pen was already shaky before Brad Keller had Tommy John surgery.

I tend to agree that they need more from the left side of the infield, but that’s not an area of any real strength this deadline season. There’s no difference-making upgrade at the hot corner who’s going to help them unless they take on $50MM or so of Matt Chapman‘s remaining $100MM, and I don’t think that’s prudent for a club with so many heavy contracts already on the books — particularly since we’d be talking about Chapman’s age-34 through age-37 seasons. No thanks. A right-handed bat, particularly in the outfield, would be nice.

The pitching is the focus for me though, due both to needs at the back of the rotation and the long term outlook. Wheeler is only signed through 2027. Nola’s outlook is a total question mark; the Phillies can only hope he bounces back from 2025-26, but there’s no certainty of that. The farm system doesn’t have a ton in the way of MLB-ready arms. If it did, they’d be getting a look. Can the Phils find a way to add an outfielder, a starter and at least one reliever with a fairly thin system that’s been set back by injuries in 2026?