As the trade deadline approaches, the Philadelphia Phillies may feel pressured to make a significant move. To pull that off, trading Gage Wood could become a necessity.
Typically, a contender like the Phillies has to part with one or two promising prospects to acquire a major-league-ready talent. Given that their top prospect pool is hampered by injuries and underwhelming performances, Wood stands out as the obvious candidate to be dealt.
It’s not that the Phillies want to trade him far from it. But sometimes, that’s just the cost of doing business.
In an article published Thursday, “The Phillies don’t want to trade Wood, their No. 2 prospect. Ideally, he might be ready to contribute to the big league bullpen as early as later this season. But if the Phillies decide they need to make a major splash at the deadline, they’d almost certainly have to include Wood in any trade package. Top prospect Aidan Miller is expected to be sidelined with a back injury until around the deadline, and none of the other top-five prospects are generating much buzz in the minors. The team lacks flexibility for a big move unless Wood is involved.”
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The Phillies may ultimately decide they need to upgrade their outfield in some way. On the other hand, if pitching injuries start mounting, Wood could fill that need himself. Trading him would essentially be about reallocating assets to address a different position.
The trade deadline is still a ways off, and plenty can change between now and then. Still, the fact that Wood is already surfacing in early speculation suggests he might very well be on the move.
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