The Phillies have been on an absolute tear. They cut a 9.5-game deficit in the NL East down to just 2.5 games heading into Thursday. And they don’t look like they’re slowing down anytime soon. But if they really want to bury the Braves, the front office probably needs to make a move or two before the deadline.
This isn’t about blowing up the roster or trading prospects just for the sake of it. It’s about finding specific pieces that fill real holes. Here’s where they should start.
Outfielder Taylor Ward Makes a Lot of Sense
The Phillies lineup is already dangerous. They don’t need a total overhaul. What they need is steady, reliable production. And that’s exactly what Taylor Ward has been giving the Angels and now the Orioles this season.
Ward only has five home runs in 2026. That’s not great. But he’s walking at an absurd rate and his .379 on-base percentage is legit. According to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan, Ward’s offensive value has been above-average for six straight years now. They also noted that his power numbers could bounce back in the second half. “The components for power are still here,” they wrote.
Not everyone is totally sold on Ward’s approach though. Former All-Star Joey Votto brought up an interesting point on MLB Network: “I beg the question: How sustainable is the on-base if pitchers are feeling the lack of slug, the lack of threat? You have to, at all times, feel like a threat.”
Fair point. But Ward is also a free agent after this year. That means the Phillies wouldn’t have to give up a massive prospect haul for him. And he’s a rental who can slot into left field or DH and just get on base. That has value.
Adding Aroldis Chapman to the Bullpen
The Phillies already have Jhoan Duran closing games. He’s been electric. But the bridge to him has been shaky. That’s where Aroldis Chapman comes in.
Chapman is 38 years old and still throwing 100 mph. He’s sitting in the upper 90s and still mixing in sliders and the occasional splitter. McDaniel and Passan put it simply: “He just keeps throwing hard into his late-30s and getting people out with basically one pitch.”
Chapman is also about to break the all-time record for strikeouts by a reliever. He’s tied with Hoyt Wilhelm at 1,363, according to Chris Cotillo. One more punchout and he’ll have the mark all to himself.
The Red Sox are dead last in the AL East. They have no reason to hold onto Chapman if someone offers a decent prospect package. Rebuilding should be their priority. And for the Phillies, adding a left-handed power arm like Chapman would give them a dominant 1-2 punch in the late innings. If they wanted to stretch both guys for three outs each in October, they’d have three shut-down innings covered.
This is the kind of move that could make the difference in a tight division race. The Phillies are already charging. These two additions might be enough to finally catch and pass the Braves.
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