Figure out who you want
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Philadelphia Phillies fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
For a team with as many issues as the Phillies have, they’re still in a pretty good spot. They have a playoff spot as of right now and will likely continue to have that once they start getting healthier and receive reinforcements in the rotation. There are a lot more teams in the National League that are having a better season as compared to last, so the chase to enter the playoff field is going to be that much more difficult. Should the Phillies play to their true talent level, they should make the field easily, but as we have seen, that is not always the case.
The team is going to need help from outside the organization that will demand they make a trade. Whatever that spot may be, the team will need to add something that helps put them in a better position to make the playoffs. Just by observing this team on a daily basis, one probably has a sense of what they should be pushing hardest for, but we ask you:
If we’re looking for personal opinions, the most dire aspect of this team is the bullpen, particularly acquiring someone who can pitch leveraged innings from the left side. Matt Strahm has not been his usual self lately, getting hit harder than he has in years past. Jose Alvarado is not going to be available due to a suspension until the end of summer, and won’t be at all should they make the playoffs, so getting a southpaw in the bullpen is, to me, the highest priority.
After that, things can probably just be a “pick ‘em”. Bring in an outfielder at either center or left field and you can make the other position work. Maybe it’s addition by subtraction and cutting bait on underperforming hitters in the outfield. Maybe it’s something else that the team should be looking for.
Let us know what you think.