There’s a fair amount on Dave Dombrowski’s plate as this year’s MLB trade deadline approaches if the Philadelphia Phillies want to strengthen their roster and boost their chances of making a serious postseason push in the National League.
For most of the season, the lineup has clearly lacked a right-handed bat, ideally one who can play the outfield so the team can finally stop entertaining the notion of moving Bryce Harper back to the grass.
On the pitching side, the bullpen has turned into a more urgent concern following Brad Keller’s season-ending UCL injury, and getting the ball reliably to Jhoan Duran has been a struggle. Meanwhile, the team frequently finds itself uncompetitive whenever Aaron Nola or the fifth starter takes the hill.
Those issues need addressing, though it’s reasonable to question whether the farm system has enough depth to cover all of them. Fortunately for Philadelphia, there’s an intriguing arm coming along in the lower minors who could factor into a prospect trade package.
Marty Gair a name to know before the MLB trade deadline
According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic (subscription required), right-hander Marty Gair is a player worth watching.
Selected in the 13th round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, Florida, he doesn’t currently rank among the organization’s top 30 prospects. Still, his pitching profile offers plenty of intrigue, with a fastball that sits at 97.8 mph on average something that could catch the eye of other clubs in trade talks.
Working as a reliever for Single-A Clearwater in the Florida State League, Gair has overwhelmed hitters, racking up 56 strikeouts against the 132 batters he’s faced over 32 innings. He hasn’t earned a promotion yet, and the reasons are fairly clear.
The strikeout numbers are impressive, but his command and pitch location remain works in progress. Gair has walked 20 batters this season, and over his minor-league career, he carries an 8.2 BB/9 ratio.
Consistent success is hard to come by when you’re putting runners on base for free, and those self-inflicted problems have contributed to a 5.06 ERA so far in 2026. He’s given up only 18 hits, though five of those have left the yard as home runs.
Gair probably isn’t the centerpiece of any trade package, but he could certainly slot in as the second or third prospect to help push a deal across the finish line. Teams are likely to see the raw ability and natural talent, believing their own coaching staff can refine his game and eventually turn him into a useful big-league reliever.
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