Things appear to be turning around for the Philadelphia Phillies following a much-needed series win over the Chicago Cubs this past weekend. After enduring a five-game skid, the Phillies’ struggling offense finally broke out, putting up 10 runs in a dominant 10-4 victory on Saturday.
On Sunday night, Aaron Nola silenced critics with a stellar performance on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, pitching seven strong innings and allowing just one run.
With the series win, the Phillies improved to 15-13 and now sit 4.5 games behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East.
But are the Phillies truly back on track? One explosive game isn’t enough to erase concerns about last week’s lack of extra-base hits. And while relievers Orion Kerkering and Jordan Romano each delivered a scoreless inning in Sunday’s 3-1 extra-inning win, it remains to be seen whether the bullpen’s recent struggles are really behind them.
Popular heavy-hitting prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. could be on Phillies’ trade block this summer
Recent rumors linking the Phillies to Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley are certainly noteworthy. Although significant trades are uncommon this early in the season, the fact that Philadelphia’s front office is already exploring such possibilities just 28 games in raises some eyebrows.
This level of aggressiveness is concerning because acquiring elite talent typically requires sacrificing top prospects—something the Phillies can ill afford given their farm system is still recovering from earlier trades. Naturally, this brings up the question: who in the Phillies’ prospect pool is considered untouchable?
Gabriel Rincones Jr. got alllll of this one 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/Q2dbOizWPs
— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) February 23, 2025
According to ESPN’s David Schoenfield, the Phillies have already declared two top prospects off-limits in trade discussions: right-handed pitcher Andrew Painter, who is projected to debut this summer, and shortstop Aidan Miller, a potential future replacement for Alec Bohm at third base if trade talks around Bohm resume.
Still, Schoenfield suggested the Phillies might be willing to trade from their second-tier prospect group, such as slugging outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. and right-handed pitcher Jean Cabrera.
Other names like outfielder Justin Crawford and catcher Eduardo Tait might also be on the table if the return is worthwhile. The aging makeup of the current big league roster is an increasing concern, especially in a league that’s skewing younger.
Rincones Jr. made waves during spring training by hitting three homers in just 12 at-bats, and with center fielder Brandon Marsh struggling both at the plate and with injuries, Rincones Jr.’s name surfacing in trade talks is especially timely. He’s held his own at Triple-A, posting a .250 average with three home runs and 11 RBIs over 24 games—putting himself in the mix for a possible promotion.
Ultimately, the Phillies are walking a tightrope: they need to infuse youth into their roster without sacrificing their competitive edge.
Trading mid-level prospects like Rincones Jr., Cabrera, or Mick Abel while holding onto their top-tier talent may be the smartest long-term strategy. Selling high on the B-tier names could offer the right balance between short-term impact and future security.
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