The Philadelphia Phillies' season seemed to be heading for disaster when they fired Rob Thomson, but they have turned things around and look like contenders once again.
The biggest question for the Phillies to answer now is how long they think their championship window is. If they feel like the window is closing, a blockbuster trade at the trade deadline seems warranted, and with Mason Miller's name floating around in rumors, he could be the perfect addition.
The Phillies have stars who can get the job done at the plate, but their real ticket to the World Series is their pitching. Cristopher Sánchez and Zack Wheeler are an elite duo, and Jhoan Duran is one of the best closers in baseball. They could make their staff even better by adding Miller. Not only would he improve the Phillies even more, but getting him in Philadelphia could shift the scales in the National League. Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer proposed this trade that would send Miller to Philadelphia:
- Phillies receive: Mason Miller
- San Diego Padres receive: Gage Wood (MLB No. 51 prospect), Francisco Renteria (MLB No. 90 prospect)
Two top-100 prospects for Miller is a solid haul for the Padres, but they could realistically ask for even more. He is arguably the best reliever in baseball and would make any contender lethal. The biggest question in any Miller trade will actually be whether the Padres decide to sell or not.
If they do decide to sell, Miller is their biggest asset. In the National League, it's all about beating the Dodgers, and the Phillies could really shorten games with a start from Sánchez or Wheeler, followed by Duran and Miller closing out the game. The Dodgers have an elite offense and rotation, but with a pitching staff that features four of the game's best arms, the Phillies could neutralize the Dodgers' bats.