It’s that time again — trade winds swirling, hotlines buzzing, and a familiar question floating over Broad Street: What will Dave Dombrowski do?
With the MLB trade deadline just weeks away, the Phillies president of baseball ops finds himself walking a high wire again. The team’s needs? Obvious. A bullpen arm, for starters. Maybe even two. And yes, it wouldn’t hurt to find someone — anyone — to inject some life into a sleepy corner of the outfield.
But here’s the catch: This isn't a typical July.
Offense is down everywhere — not just in South Philly. As The Inquirer’s Scott Lauber pointed out, baseball is on pace for its lowest run production in over half a century. So if the outfield bats look underwhelming right now, well, join the club.
That doesn’t mean Dombrowski won’t shop for one. It just means the menu isn’t exactly packed with five-star options.
“There’s just not a lot out there,” said one National League executive. “And what is out there is not something that will impress in the headlines. This deadline, for most teams, will be all about improving at the margins.”
So the focus, for Dombrowski and Co. now, is the bullpen and that's fitting because another rival NL scout didn’t mince words when assessing Philly's crop of relivers: “It’s leaking oil and about as reliable as a Yugo.”
Translation: Help wanted. Urgently.
The Phillies have firepower in the rotation, and we know how this works come October, one or two of those starters will move to the ‘pen. But the challenge is getting to October first. That’s where the patchwork needs some stitching.
Cue the Pittsburgh Pirates. According to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Phillies are doing more than window-shopping, they’re actively kicking the tires on two Pirates arms: Dennis Santana and David Bednar.
Let’s start with Santana. He’s 29, making $1.44 million this year, and under team control through 2026.
He was a journeyman for six seasons, posting an ERA north of 5.00 before joining the Pirates. But in 2025, Santana looks like a different guy. He’s got a 1.42 ERA in 38 innings and has notched five saves. Cheap, effective, under control. That’s the trifecta.
Then there’s Bednar, the known commodity. Two-time All-Star. Career 3.29 ERA. Led the National League in saves last year. He’s pricier (earning $5.9 million in 2025) and comes with an All-Star résumé. He’s the type of guy you trust in October… if you’re willing to pay the price.
And what about that outfield? Sure, the trade market’s dry, but help could be just a phone call away. Justin Crawford is knocking at the door in Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 2022 first-round pick is hitting .343 with 26 stolen bases and an .847 OPS. He’s fast. He’s electric. He’s getting close.
Would Crawford and a reliever or two satisfy the fanbase? Probably not.
But here’s the thing: That’s not Dombrowski’s concern.
He knows what time it is. The Phillies’ window isn’t closed. not yet, but it’s starting to squeak. The core is aging. The financial puzzle is tightening. Schwarber, Suárez, Realmuto — there’s no guarantee all three are back in red pinstripes next spring.
Which means this is the run. The run. And Dombrowski can’t afford to miss. He also can’t afford to trade away the future. That’s why prospects like Mick Abel, Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, and Crawford are likely off-limits.
He needs those guys to hit. Literally and figuratively.
It’s a balancing act. One leak at a time. And Dombrowski’s walking the line.
Again.
