Philadelphia Phillies should consider five potential reliever trade targets

The Philadelphia Phillies head into the MLB All-Star break as one of the best teams in baseball. Despite some major injuries of late, they’ve found a way to keep winning.

Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Spencer Turnbull are just the latest three additions to the injured list. There were concerns about how the team would perform without them, but they have performed well and continued to win baseball games.

While they are currently legitimate World Series contenders, there are still a few areas where the Phillies could use help.

Fortunately, the MLB trade deadline is fast approaching. Philadelphia is expected to be a very aggressive buyer in the market.

Phillies Nation believes the team should target help in its bullpen. They also listed five potential trade options Philadelphia could consider pursuing.

Those five names are Jason Adam of the Tampa Bay Rays, Carlos Estevez of the Los Angeles Angels, Tanner Scott of the Miami Marlins, Paul Sewald of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Jason Foley of the Detroit Tigers.

Looking at this list, a few stand out as perfect business targets.

Clearly, the Phillies have been interested in Scott for some time now. He pitched 36 games for the Marlins this season, posting a 1.46 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 12 saves while only squandering two potential saves. He’s a highly coveted reliever on the market.

Adam is also an interesting potential target. With the Rays this season, he played in 39 games, going 4-1 with a 1.86 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, three saves and 15 holds. He’s a very consistent reliever who would give Philadelphia a strong arm in relief.

Sewald is also a very interesting player for Philadelphia. He has played in 19 games this season, compiling a 1.56 ERA, a 0.63 WHIP, 11 saves, one blown save and has completed 17.1 innings.

All three of these players would be good potential trade targets. Estevez and Foley are also good relievers that could be acquired to take the unit to the next level.

It seems very likely that the Phillies will be aggressive in the coming weeks. They have a legitimate opportunity to compete for a championship and strengthening their bullpen will be key to achieving that goal.