The Philadelphia Phillies have gotten off to a poor start and could be sellers ahead of the trade deadline.
Philadelphia has expectations of competing for a World Series this season, yet the Phillies have struggled mightily. With that, Philadelphia could look to recoup some assets, and one MLB exec voted in a poll ran by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand that Zack Wheeler would be the biggest name traded this season.
“Of the players receiving one vote apiece, there were impending free agents (Skubal, Freddy Peralta and Luis Arraez), controllable starters on underperforming teams (Zack Wheeler, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha), as well as Jarren Duran, though his slow start to 2026 may have impacted his trade value,” Feinsand wrote.
“Wheeler is set to earn $42 million this season and next, and while he’s a key component to the Phillies’ championship aspirations, their 12-19 start could prompt Dombrowski to shake things up by the Deadline.”
Meanwhile, one AL executive believes the Phillies could be the team to watch before the trade deadline if they decide to be sellers.
“If Philly can’t right the ship, how heavy of a reset will they go through at the Deadline?” an AL executive said. “While it hasn’t been Dombrowski’s style to sell at the Trade Deadline, the organization may have a chance to fully reload for years to come if they make some hard calls in July if a trip to the playoffs is looking bleak.”
Wheeler is in the second year of his three-year, $126 million deal.
Wheeler’s Been Bright Spot for Phillies
To begin the 2026 season, Wheeler was injured, but since returning, he’s been a bright spot.
Wheeler went 6 innings, allowing 1 run and striking out 8 against the Miami Marlins on Friday to help the Phillies get a big win.
“You feel the pressure,” Wheeler said. “It’s early in the season, but you feel the pressure. We’re a really good staff, and we’ve got to pitch like it. They pay us for a reason. We’re, I want to say, the core in a sense. So it starts with us putting up zeros and kind of making that statement when we go out there. So, yeah, it’s on us for the most part.”
Wheeler made his second start of the season since returning from the IL, and he believes he’s starting to feel like his old self.
“My body felt great,” Wheeler said. “But it felt like my body was just moving in slow motion a little bit. That’s why my velo was down just a hair. But I felt great. I still executed for the most part.”
Wheeler is a three-time MLB All-Star.
Philadelphia on Hot Streak Since Firing Manager
The Phillies, however, have started to play better baseball as of late under interim manager Don Mattingly.
Philadelphia fired Rob Thomson after the team was off to a 9-19 start, as Dave Dombrowski felt like it was a necessary move.
“This isn’t a blame game,” Dombrowski said. “You can blame whoever you choose. For us, we don’t really do that. Rob, like the rest of us, you bear responsibilities. Just the way things were going, they’re not going well enough. I don’t think we’re playing up to our capabilities. I think we’re a much better club than we played. And so you make some decisions that are tough at times.”
Since firing Thomson, the Phillies are 4-0.
MLB Exec Links Phillies to Making Surprise Decision on Zack Wheeler