The Phillies were handed a tough loss last night, as the Atlanta Braves won the second game of the series, 13-4. This loss leaves the team with an unimpressive 42-46 record with 8 games remaining before the All-Star break. The Phils are currently 8.5 games out of first place in the NL East.
The once dominant National League team has been replaced by up and coming teams like the Braves, Nationals, Cardinals, Reds, and even the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are having their best season since 1992. The Phillies have been troubled by injuries this year, as key players such as starting pitcher Roy Halladay, second baseman Chase Utley, and catcher Carlos Ruiz have all been sidelined. Just when Phillies fans thought things couldn’t get any worse, first baseman Ryan Howard was placed on the 15-day disabled list before last night’s game with a knee injury. And, to the dismay of Phillies fans, Howard may also require surgery to repair his injured knee, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
With the All-Star Break and the trade deadline approaching, a few Phillies players are being discussed as possible trade bait. Utley, third baseman Michael Young and closer Jonathan Papelbon have all been named as possible shipments to other teams. The Boston Red Sox have shown interest in Michael Young, and Papelbon is a key target for teams looking for a dominant closer, such as the Detroit Tigers. Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. says Papelbon is not on the trade market, though.
The Phillies tough season looks like it is not going to end soon and the fans are starting to get restless. A solution would be to trade Young or Papelbon in order to receive some good young prospects in order to build for the future. The fans would most likely not be on board with trading a star player for prospects, but it may be the best option with the way this season is currently going.
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