Past swaps of future Hall-of-Famers Ferguson Jenkins, Ryne Sandberg haunt Phillies followers as top prospects may be dealt to boost title hopes.
Ferguson Jenkins.
Ryne Sandberg.
Whenever Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter floats into thoughts these days, those names may automatically pop into the brain, too.
It is certainly a post-traumatic stress reaction that comes with being a lifelong Phillies fan with another July 30 trade deadline looming.
Phillies trade deadline needs
The Phillies likely need to make a big move or two to improve their championship chances. They sat one-half game ahead of the New York Mets in the National League East as action resumed July 18 after the All-Star Break.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski built his lofty status among MLB executives with shrewd moves for some of his previous employers. His Phillies midseason dealings haven’t been particularly robust or impactful the last few years.
This year, considering some of the Phillies’ shortcomings in the outfield and especially the bullpen, Dombrowski needs to make a major swap or two. Naturally, who the Phillies may have to give up to obtain what they need has been a hot topic.
Much speculation has centered on whether they’d be willing to part with their top prospect, Painter, now pitching at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but also highly regarded Double-A Reading shortstop Aidan Miller and Painter’s IronPigs teammate outfielder Justin Crawford.
Phillies trade regrets
That’s where thoughts of Jenkins and Sandberg keep intruding.
Both are, of course, Hall of Famers, having crafted their Cooperstown qualifications with the Cubs after being dealt to Chicago by the Phillies when each was a young, unproven player.
Pitcher Jenkins was traded in 1966 and second baseman Sandberg in 1982, long ago but recent enough to still haunt the franchise’s most avid long-time rooters.
Jenkins had made just eight appearances, all in relief and quite effectively, for the Phillies when they deemed him expendable and swapped him with outfielder/first baseman John Hernstein for outfielder Adolfo Phillips and pitchers Bob Buhl and Larry Jackson.
To employ modern statistical analysis, Phillips, Buhl and Jackson finished with a combined wins against replacement of 87.5. Jenkins, all by himself, had an 84.1.
He was a workhorse who pitched until age 40, winning 20 or more games seven times, earning the Cy Young Award in 1971 and coming close several other times. Jenkins won 284 games and had a 3.34 career ERA, none of which was apparently envisioned by the Phillies.
Sandberg was basically a throw-in during the exchange of shortstops that sent Larry Bowa to the Cubs while the Phillies obtained Ivan DeJesus in an attempt to get younger at the position. Clever Cubs general manager Dallas Green, the former Phillies manager, valued Sandberg’s potential more than the Phillies did after his 13-game 1981 audition.
The minor-league shortstop initially played third base for the Cubs before settling in to become an all-time great at second base. Sandberg made 10 straight National League All-Star teams from 1984-93 and was 1984 NL MVP. He batted .285 with 282 homers while spending 15 years in Chicago.
Hold onto Painter, Miller, Crawford and Abel?
Surely, odds are that Painter will not also become a Hall of Famer, But it sure would be nice to see him begin to unfurl his potential in a Phillies uniform.
The Phillies’ 2021 No. 1 draft pick, who missed the last two years after undergoing Tommy John Surgery, likely is untouchable as a trade piece. And while Painter has long been viewed as a Phillies’ late-season addition this year, they may not need him because their starting pitching has been so adept.
The IronPigs also resumed play after the All-Star break July 18 at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown against Rochester. Painter, in his first full season since quickly ascending to Double-A in 2022, started the second half with a 3-5 record and 4.84 ERA in 16 starts.
He has thrown just 67 innings, not more than 5 1/3 in any start, as the Phillies are, wisely, being deliberate with his return to the mound. He has also served up 11 home runs.
None of that screams “Cooperstown!” But it’s early and the aptitude remains, potential that should, and likely will, be played out in Phillies pinstripes.
As for Crawford, he went into the July 18 game batting .331 this year and .320 for his MILB career with 29 stolen bases in 2025. He may actually be the outfield addition and sparkplug the Phillies need this season, and will likely land at Citizens Bank Park among September call-ups if not before.
Miller, the Phillies’ No. 2 prospect according to MILB, has some pop and infield versatility that could also eventually serve the Phillies well. That makes him a very valuable possible trade chip this month, and the Phillies will likely be tempted.
It’s imperative the Phillies take a win-now approach and do what it takes to improve in any July dealings. That may even include parting with pitcher Mick Abel, the 2020 first-round pick who has been quite effective this season with Lehigh Valley and was both extremely good and very bad in six Phillies starts, not unusual for a young pitcher.
The Phillies just need to be smart and savvy enough to ensure could-have-been Phillies Jenkins and Sandberg don’t have future company.
Contact Kevin Tresolini at [email protected] and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Why Phillies shouldn't trade these prospects at MLB trade deadline
Category: Baseball
