Big moves are on the horizon for the Philadelphia Phillies. In the thick of a high-stakes season, the Phillies are jockeying for position as serious contenders for the National League pennant. Yet, they still find themselves trailing the New York Mets by a five-game margin in the race for the NL East lead.
As the July 31 trade deadline looms, fans can expect the Phillies to be active in the market, potentially targeting key additions like a closer, an outfielder, or even a new starting pitcher. But as any baseball aficionado knows, high-quality players usually come with a price tag, and the Phillies will need to carefully evaluate which assets they’re willing to trade from both the major league roster and their farm system.
One intriguing name that could come into play is Mick Abel, the Phillies’ top pitching prospect. Matt Gelb of The Athletic recently shed light on Abel’s situation, suggesting that the 23-year-old might serve as a pivotal trade chip for the Phillies. Abel’s stock has skyrocketed since overcoming a rough 2024 season. He’s shown significant growth in the majors, becoming a more confident and consistent strike-thrower—a transformation that could catch the eye of teams across the league.
If the Phillies choose to hold on to Abel, he might find himself on the outside looking in when it comes to the initial 2026 rotation. With pitchers like Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, and Nola under contract, and Jesús Luzardo and Andrew Painter still under team control, Abel’s future with the Phillies is certainly a puzzle piece worth analyzing carefully.
Interestingly, Andrew Painter, another promising talent yet to make his big-league debut, is regarded as a prospect with more upside than Abel. If and when Painter makes his first appearance this season, it could further complicate Abel’s standing with the team.
For now, Abel boasts an impressive 2.35 ERA in his three major league starts, fanning 14 batters over 15 1/3 innings. As he gears up to likely take the mound in the upcoming series against the Miami Marlins, Phillies manager Rob Thomson has yet to finalize the rotation agenda past this weekend. Abel’s performance continues to put him in a strong position, whether he remains a fixture in Philadelphia or is dealt for a key piece in the Phillies’ championship quest.
