Proposed blockbuster Phillies trade sees Philadelphia deal for $300 million two-time Cy Young to replace Ranger Suarez originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Philadelphia Phillies have taken a couple big hits this offseason, losing an ace in Ranger Suarez to the Boston Red Sox, and missing out on Bo Bichette when he signed with their division rival, the New York Mets. Plus, their core is an aging one, meaning their chance to win it all is getting smaller every season.
They need a blockbuster move, fast. Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer proposes the move they make is trading with the Detroit Tigers for their two-time Cy Young, Tarik Skubal.
The trade would look like this:
Phillies get: LHP Tarik Skubal
Tigers get: 3B Alec Bohm, RHP Andrew Painter (MLB No. 28), RHP Gage Wood
“The Phillies are the team that should want to go all-out for one year of Skubal. Their aging core is running out of chances to win the World Series, so might as well make ’em count. Plus, are we sure the Phillies are solid in their rotation? Cristopher Sánchez is a legit top-of-the-rotation starter, but Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola have durability concerns and Jesús Luzardo is unpredictable. Ranger Suárez is, of course, gone,” Rymer wrote.
This past season, Skubal won his second Cy Young, and posted a 13-6 record, a 2.21 ERA, 241 Ks, and a WHIP of 0.891 in 195 innings pitched. He’d instantly become the ace of the rotation, and when Zack Wheeler returns, the Phillies would have an amazing 1-2-3 punch with Skubal, Wheeler, and Cristopher Sánchez.
The only problem with this trade, as Rymer mentions, is the fact the Tigers may not want to do it. Bohm is a decent third baseman, but his ceiling isn’t that high. Plus, Painter, who is the star of this trade, is coming off Tommy John surgery, so the confidence that he’ll be the top prospect he was might not be there for Detroit.
However, if Philly can find a way to make this trade work, they need to do it. Their championship window is closing, and they need to find a way to win, fast.
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