We’re officially a week away from the MLB trade deadline, which is set for August 3 at 6 p.m. ET. This means the rumors and trade buzz will be heating up across the majors as contenders are looking for that one or two pieces to put them over the top, while those not in the playoff chase are looking to sell off various pieces in hopes of bolstering their farm systems.
The Philadelphia Phillies are one of those contenders who will be active between now and the trade deadline as they have a few needs to address (starting pitcher, reliever, and right-handed outfield bat) to get them back to playing postseason baseball in October.
Will the Phils be able to fill all of those needs? It’s going to be tough, but with them only 5.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the National League East, the fanbase is expecting President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski to make a move or two. Anything less would be a failure.
Here at Total Sports Live, we’re starting up a trade deadline tracker, which will provide the latest news and rumors involving the Phillies. The second half of the 2026 season hasn’t started great for Philadelphia, but two good moves at the deadline could set up Don Mattingly’s club for success the rest of the way.
Report: Phillies had a scout in attendance to watch Nationals starter Foster Griffin pitch on Saturday
According to Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic, the Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays were scouting Washington Nationals All-Star Foster Griffin on Saturday.
One anecdote we’ve heard at The Athletic: The Phillies and Rays each had a scout at Nats Park on Saturday to watch Foster Griffin. That does not mean either team will acquire him, or even that they’re high on him, but I think it reaffirms the idea that almost every contender needs starting pitching, and the market for Griffin is probably wider than almost anyone who the Nats could sell. I’d also temper expectations w/r/t a return, if only because teams like to look at the underlying metrics (3.92 xERA) the stuff (depends on your eval) and control (he is a free agent after this year).
It’s no surprise to see teams scouting Griffin, who is having an outstanding rookie season for the Nationals. The 31-year-old right-handed pitcher, who spent the previous three seasons in Japan, has a 12-2 record and 2.76 ERA across 21 starts with the Nats.
Griffin has recorded 113 strikeouts, while only giving up 100 hits, 38 earned runs, 28 walks, and 17 home runs across 124 innings. His performance on the mound is one of the reasons why the Nationals are one of the teams in the running for the third wild card spot in the National League.
Nonetheless, it would be shocking to see the Nationals move Griffin to the Phillies, even though he’s set to be a free agent at the end of the season.
Would Griffin be an upgrade over Aaron Nola and whomever Philly throws out there in the fifth spot in the rotation? Yes, and that’s just based on what’s on the back of Griffin’s baseball card. That being said, it will be interesting to see if the Phillies take a look at any other starters or make a move for one before next week’s deadline.
