As rival Mets make surprise move for Marcus Stroman, which trade-deadline pitching options remain for Phillies? | Extra Innings

We interrupt your Monday morning coffee for this public service announcement: It’s July 29. Do you know where the Phillies general manager is?

Losing two of three games to the Braves over the weekend did nothing to change anyone’s outlook on the Phillies. They are who we thought they were, which is to say they aren’t good enough to overtake Atlanta for the division lead but they aren’t bad enough to drop out of the wild-card race in the National League. The latter point isn’t insignificant for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2011. And if the Phillies are able to find pitching help, their chances of doing so will improve.

But time is of the essence. The trade deadline is about 55 hours away — 4 p.m. Wednesday, to be precise — and the options are thinning. Another name came off the board yesterday when the Mets, of all teams, acquired right-hander Marcus Stroman.

Will general manager Matt Klentak make a big move? A small move? No move at all?

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

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— Scott Lauber (extrainnings@inquirer.com)

With the trade-deadline countdown entering its final days, the first major move for a starting pitcher went down yesterday with the Blue Jays sending Marcus Stroman to ... the Mets?

Surprise!

Presumed all along to be a seller, the Mets shook the pitching market by adding Stroman, a 28-year-old right-hander whose six-year career has been marked by inconsistency but who nevertheless is controllable through next season. The Phillies’ level of interest in Stroman is unknown, but it’s doubtful they would’ve met the Blue Jays’ asking price, considering the Mets gave up two of their top pitching prospects.

It’s worth wondering, then, where the Phillies will turn for the pitching help that, as Bob Brookover notes in his column, they so clearly need. Here, then, is a look at a few options that still remain before Wednesday:

Robbie Ray, Diamondbacks: Some talent evaluators within the Phillies organization weren’t particularly high on Ray in the offseason. It’s unclear whether that opinion has changed. Arizona’s asking price of multiple prospects probably hasn’t. One potential caution flag: Ray walks a lot of batters (4.0 per nine innings for his career, 4.2 per nine innings this season).

Mike Minor, Rangers: The Phillies explored a potential trade for the 31-year-old lefty in the offseason but were unable to make a deal. The price has presumably gone up given his solid season in Texas.

Matthew Boyd, Tigers: Rhys Hoskins, for one, offered a full-throated endorsement after the Phillies faced Boyd last week. The 28-year-old lefty is controllable for three more seasons, so the Tigers can hold out for a prospect-rich package. Then again, they waited to move Michael Fulmer two years ago and he’s recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery now.

Noah Syndergaard/Zack Wheeler, Mets: One thing we know about Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen is we have no idea what he’s thinking. But it’s difficult to imagine the Mets trading either pitcher to the Phillies, especially Syndergaard, who is controllable through 2021.

Trevor Bauer, Indians: His talent is undeniable. So, too, are his eccentricities. From his unique training methods to his drone-flying hobby, the 28-year-old right-hander can be a handful, as he demonstrated yesterday when he chucked the ball over the center-field fence rather than handing it over to manager Terry Francona. But he’s also as analytically minded as any pitcher in baseball, which could lead the Phillies to believe they can rein him in.

Tanner Roark, Reds: He’s the least sexy name on this list. He’s also eligible for free agency at season’s end, which might make him a likelier choice for a Phillies front office that has no interest in giving up future assets for a run at a wild-card spot. If nothing else, he’s is an innings-eater with a career 3.63 ERA who could bring greater reliability to the rotation.

It’s entirely possible, perhaps even probable, that the Phillies’ pursuit of a trade for starting pitching will cost them either Adam Haseley or fellow outfield prospect Mickey Moniak. Which would you give up? Brookover sought the opinion of several scouts.

Jean Segura is banged up again after colliding with Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. at second base in the seventh inning yesterday.

“Heavy body,” bloated ERA and all, Zach Eflin is expected to make his next start, manager Gabe Kapler said yesterday.

Drew Smyly makes his home debut for the Phillies tomorrow night. The team’s interest in the left-hander dates back two years.

Top pitching prospect Spencer Howard had an auspicious double-A debut Friday night.

Today: Phillies are idle for the last time until Aug. 12.

Tomorrow: Drew Smyly makes his home debut for Phillies vs. Giants, 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday: MLB trade deadline, 4 p.m.

Later Wednesday: Vince Velasquez vs. Giants’ Jeff Samardzija, 7:05 p.m.

Thursday: Jake Arrieta starts series finale vs. Giants, 1:05 p.m.

When the Phillies traded for J.T. Realmuto and signed Bryce Harper, they imagined a middle of the order that would hit home runs in big numbers, especially at Citizens Bank Park. But yesterday marked the first time in 105 games this season that Realmuto, Harper and Hoskins all went deep in the same game.

Realmuto also became the first Phillies player to hit a grand slam as a catcher since Mike Lieberthal did on July 30, 2006.

Send questions by email or on Twitter @ScottLauber.

Question: If the Phillies don’t have enough or don’t want to trade minor league prospects for these better controllable pitchers why didn’t they just go after [Dallas] Keuchel and or [Craig] Kimbrel? It seems the obvious choice to me, unless they just didn’t want to spend more. I can understand not wanting to trade [Alec] Bohm.

— Bob A., via email

Answer: Thanks, Bob, for the question. Keuchel and Kimbrel tend to get lumped together because they were the longest free-agent holdouts and they signed within a few days of each other in June. But when it comes to the Phillies’ inaction on both pitchers, they are distinct cases.

With Kimbrel, quite simply, the Phillies were spooked about committing multiple years to another reliever in his 30s. And after being burned in the last two years by the contracts for Tommy Hunter, Pat Neshek and David Robertson, it’s hard to blame them.

The Phillies’ lack of interest in Keuchel makes less sense. The best I can offer is that they misjudged their young pitching. They expected Zach Eflin, Vince Velasquez and especially Nick Pivetta to outperform Keuchel. Obviously, that wasn’t the case. And although Keuchel likely doesn’t have any more Cy Young Awards in his future, he would’ve been an upgrade over what they have.