Currently holding a 17-14 record and sitting second in the National League East, the Philadelphia Phillies haven’t quite delivered the dominant performance fans were expecting to kick off the season. Still, given the immense talent across their roster, there’s a general sense of optimism that things will begin to click as the season progresses. With July approaching, the Phillies — along with other playoff hopefuls — are already eyeing potential upgrades ahead of the trade deadline.
It’s a familiar pattern in Major League Baseball: contending teams frequently part with some of their top prospects in exchange for immediate help from rebuilding teams. For the Phillies, this often means targeting bullpen reinforcements, a consistent theme in their trade deadline strategies over the years.
This season appears to follow that same narrative. Philadelphia’s bullpen has already cost the team several wins, exposing a key area of concern. Playoff contenders always seek dependable relievers, particularly those on expiring contracts who can provide a boost in the second half of the season. The Phillies have a history of acquiring such rental relievers, including Carlos Estévez, David Robertson, and Ian Kennedy in past years. However, those deals often came at the expense of high-caliber prospects — and the team may be more cautious about repeating that approach in 2025.
Two prospects in particular — Andrew Painter and Aidan Miller — have been deemed untouchable by the organization as this year’s trade deadline approaches. Painter, a right-handed pitcher selected in the first round of the 2021 draft, and Miller, a shortstop taken in the first round of 2023, represent the future of the franchise. Both are currently ranked as the Phillies’ top two prospects by MLB Pipeline and are featured on MLB’s Top 100 Prospects list overall.
Painter, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery performed in 2023, has recently made a few promising starts for the Low-A Clearwater Threshers. In four outings, he’s posted a 3.97 ERA with 12 strikeouts and just one walk across 11 1/3 innings — a strong sign of his recovery and potential. Meanwhile, Miller is finding his rhythm at the Double-A level in Reading. After a slow start, he’s shown improvement at the plate with a 14.6% walk rate and a reduced 16.7% strikeout rate — both encouraging developments.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Phillies have been clear in their stance: they will not include either Painter or Miller in any trade package, no matter the return. This declaration came amid reports that Philadelphia has expressed interest in acquiring St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, a hard-throwing right-hander who led the majors with 49 saves in 2024 and has converted four of six save chances so far this season. Helsley is also on an expiring contract, making him an attractive — though potentially short-term — solution.
While Painter and Miller are off-limits, outfielder Justin Crawford, the Phillies’ No. 3 prospect, has not been given the same designation. Nightengale’s report suggests the Phillies are open to discussing him in deals, as evidenced by past trade conversations with the Chicago White Sox involving pitcher Garrett Crochet. While some fans remain hesitant to see high-upside prospects moved, the reality is that meaningful trade deadline acquisitions often require painful sacrifices.
Ultimately, the Phillies are counting on internal growth as a major part of their push. With Painter expected to debut in the majors sometime this summer and Miller potentially arriving within the next year or two, the team hopes that its young talent will soon be contributing in Philadelphia — not developing elsewhere for another club.
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