David Robertson will get his second chance with the Phillies.

It just won’t begin as the closer.

After the Phillies acquired Robertson in a deadline trade Tuesday that sent pitching prospect Ben Brown to the Cubs, interim manager Rob Thomson said he plans to stick with Seranthony Domínguez and lefty Brad Hand for the majority of save opportunities, even though Robertson had been closing effectively in Chicago.

“I think we’ll continue to do that, yeah,” Thomson said. “It all depends on how the game goes. But D-Rob’s another option for us because he’s done it in the past for a long time and he’s done it down the stretch, done it in the playoffs. He’s done it in the World Series. He’s a guy that I really trust.”

— Scott Lauber

» READ MORE: New reliever David Robertson won’t be the Phillies’ closer, Rob Thomson says

Thor is bringing his hammer to the Phillies. But can he swing it as effectively as he used to?

In search of a starting pitcher to fill in for injured Zach Eflin and potentially even start Game 3 of a playoff series, the Phillies beat the 6 p.m. trade deadline by acquiring veteran right-hander Noah Syndergaard from the Los Angeles Angels, a major league source confirmed Tuesday. Mickey Moniak is one of the players heading to the Angels.

Syndergaard, 29, has a 3.83 ERA in 80 innings over 15 starts this season. He was scheduled to start Tuesday night at home against the Oakland Athletics. Instead, the former New York Mets star with the “Thor” moniker will make his Phillies debut later this week, likely against the Washington Nationals, who shook the ground Tuesday by sending Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres for a touted 23-year-old lefty and three top-65 prospects in the biggest blockbuster in trade deadline history.

The move, which came a few minutes before the deadline, caps a hectic afternoon for the Phillies, who also acquired center fielder Brandon Marsh from the Angels and reliever David Robertson from the Chicago Cubs, all without giving up their big three pitching prospects Andrew Painter, Mick Abel, and Griff McGarry.

Bolstering the starting rotation emerged as the Phillies’ highest priority due to the uncertainty of Eflin’s return from another knee injury. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wanted to add a pitcher who could start Game 3 of the wild-card round and, according to multiple sources, preferred one who was under control beyond this season.

Syndergaard isn’t the latter. He’s owed approximately $7.8 million this year and can be a free agent after the season.

Could he take the mound after former Mets teammate Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola in a short series? Maybe. But first, the Phillies must get there, and they haven’t been to the postseason since — all together now! — 2011.

The Phillies explored several starting pitching options in a seller’s market but viewed most of the asking prices to be too high. Their refusal to move Painter, Abel, or McGarry took them out of the mix for Luis Castillo and Frankie Montas. The Reds traded Castillo to the Mariners last week for Seattle’s No. 1, 2, 10, and 26 prospects, according to Baseball America; the Athletics sent Montas the Yankees on Monday for New York’s No. 5, 9, and 20 prospects.

In acquiring Syndergaard, the Phillies reunited him with Wheeler. The right-handers were once teammates in a star-studded New York Mets rotation that also featured Matt Harvey and Steven Matz. But they were only healthy at the same time in 2018 and for about a month in 2017.

Back then, Syndergaard threw an upper-90s fastball with a power sinker that averaged 97-98 mph. He’s a different pitcher now. After Syndergaard missed 2020 and most of last season because of Tommy John elbow surgery, his four-seam fastball and sinker have averaged 94.2 mph and 94.0 mph, respectively.

After a start in Kansas City last week, Syndergaard told reporters that he believes the velocity is “definitely in there.” But he also admitted that he’s moving into another phase of his career.

“Overall, I feel like I’m learning a lot,” he said. “I’m still getting a feel for my delivery after not pitching for two years. But just going out there and working with the stuff that I have is just helping me become a better pitcher for when the plus stuff comes back. I’ll be able to utilize the stuff that I’m learning now to hopefully dominate even more.”

Syndergaard also pitched in a six-man rotation with the Angels, which enabled him to get an extra day of rest before each start. With the Phillies, he figures to pitch mostly on four days’ rest.

Will the heavier workload be taxing for Syndergaard down the stretch? Or will the additional rest that he has received to this point enable him to be fresher?

The Phillies will find out over the next six weeks.

— Scott Lauber

There is just one hour left for Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies to make any additional moves before the 6 p.m. MLB trade deadline passes.

While the Phillies have added a center fielder in Brandon Marsh and reliever in David Robertson, a deal for a starting pitcher — the other position they were expected to address — has yet to materialize. The Phils have been linked to several starters, including Noah Syndergaard, Carlos Rodon, and Nathan Eovaldi.

Will Dombrowski make any more deals?

— Matt Mullin

In addition to Odubel Herrera, the Phillies also DFA’d reliever Jeurys Familia.

Those two moves were clearly made with the arrivals of Brandon Marsh and David Robertson in mind, but until they arrive, it appears Mickey Moniak and Francisco Morales will fill the two vacant spots on the roster for the Phillies’ series opener in Atlanta.

— Matt Mullin

Unless the plan is to convert Brandon Marsh to a starting pitcher, I’m struggling to see the wisdom in the Phillies trading away one of their best trade chips in a deal that does not address their most glaring need.

Dave Dombrowski may not have had an opportunity to parlay Logan O’Hoppe into a playoff caliber starting pitcher right now, but by trading the well-regarded catching prospect for a center fielder who has hit even worse than their current options, he has greatly complicated his ability to address the Phillies rotation woes this offseason, when the situation will be every bit as pressing as it is right now.

Dombrowski clearly felt like the clock was ticking on O’Hoppe, and he was correct about that. Catching prospects are notoriously high risk, and O’Hoppe’s stock could well be as high as it was ever going to be.

The 2022 breakout was never going to get a chance to contribute to the Phillies thanks to the presence of JT Realmuto. They were going to trade him at some point, and it made the most sense before the start of next season. But that doesn’t mean they needed to trade him now, with only a month remaining in the minor league season and the offseason hot stove looming.

Maybe a deal for a starter would not have materialized, in which case you can certainly argue that Marsh’s upside makes this deal make sense. But that’s unknowable right now. Does Marsh really improve the Phillies’ playoff chances enough to warrant striking such a deal in the heat of the trade deadline rather than waiting to find out what the offseason market holds? I’m skeptical.

— David Murphy

» READ MORE: Phillies burn one of their best trade assets in a deal that doesn’t address their biggest need

The Phillies designated center fielder Odúbel Herrera for assignment on Tuesday, ahead of the 6 p.m. trade deadline. The move was made shortly after the Phillies acquired center fielder Brandon Marsh from the Los Angeles Angels.

Herrera was drafted by the Phillies from the Texas Rangers in the 2014 rule 5 draft, and played for the Phillies big league club from 2015-2019 and 2021-2022. Herrera missed the second half of the 2019 season after he was suspended by MLB following an arrest for a domestic violence incident in New Jersey. The charges were later dropped.

Herrera was granted free agency last winter, and was signed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal by the Phillies in March. He was slashing .238/.279/.378 over 62 games this season with a 21.3% strikeout rate. He posted a -2 defensive runs saved (DRS) over 377 innings played in center field this season.

If the Phillies can’t trade Herrera by the 6 p.m. deadline, he’ll go through waivers. Because Herrera has a prior outright, if no teams claim him, he will have the option to become a free agent.

— Alex Coffey

While much of the Phillies’ attention in the days leading up to the trade deadline has been focused on starting pitching, they arranged a reunion with a top reliever to help with their playoff push.

The Phillies acquired closer David Robertson from the Cubs, a source confirmed Tuesday. Pitching prospect Ben Brown, promoted this week to double-A Reading, is heading to Chicago, according to a source. At high-A Jersey Shore this season, Brown struck out 105 of 297 batters (35.4%) and walked only 23 (7.7%) while posting a 3.08 ERA in 73 innings.

Robertson, 37, has had a bounceback season after signing a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Cubs. He has a 2.23 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings over 36 appearances and is 14-for-19 in save opportunities.

It’s not clear whether Robertson will close for the Phillies, who have used both Seranthony Dominguez and Brad Hand in the ninth-inning role based on specific hitter matchups. Corey Knebel, who began the season as the Phillies’ closer, hasn’t allowed a run in 14 1/3 innings.

Robertson has unfinished business with the Phillies, who signed him to a two-year, $23 million contract before the 2019 season. He appeared in only seven games and posted a 5.40 ERA before being sidelined by an elbow injury that ultimately required Tommy John surgery.

ESPN was the first to report news of the trade.

— Scott Lauber

» READ MORE: Phillies acquire OF Brandon Marsh from Angels, reliever David Robertson from Cubs

After mostly neglecting their defense for the last two years, the Phillies took steps to improve their outfield by acquiring Brandon Marsh from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for double-A catcher Logan O’Hoppe, multiple sources confirmed Tuesday.

Marsh, 24, is batting .226/.284/.353 with eight home runs in 292 at-bats this season for the Angels. But defense is his strength. And with Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos in left and right field, respectively, the Phillies wanted to improve their center-field defense.

The deal was completed a little more than two hours before the 6 p.m. trade deadline. It also came after O’Hoppe played a day game for Reading.

Marsh is tied for ninth among all outfielders with seven defensive runs saved above average.

NBC Sports Philadelphia was first to report the Phillies’ interest in Marsh.

— Scott Lauber

» READ MORE: Prospect Logan O’Hoppe talks trade deadline rumors, future

The Phillies have already been linked to both Noah Syndergaard and Carlos Rodon, but the asking price for some of the top starting pitchers available remains “sky-high,” according to Bob Nightengale. So high, in fact, that some teams have reportedly dropped out of the bidding with two and a half hours left before the deadline.

— Matt Mullin

Among the reasons the Phillies are searching for a starting pitcher before the 6 p.m. deadline is the uncertainty over when Zach Eflin may return from another right knee injury.

They know now it won’t be before Aug. 25, at the earliest.

The Phillies transferred Eflin to the 60-day injured list Tuesday to clear a 40-man roster spot. For now, it will be assumed by Andrew Vasquez, a 6-foot-6 left-hander who was claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays and optioned to Triple A.

Vasquez, 28, is a former 32nd-round draft pick who has bounced from the Twins to the Dodgers to the Blue Jays. In nine major league appearances this season, he has an 8.10 ERA. He has a 2.45 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 11 innings in triple A.

Eflin hasn’t pitched since June 25 because of a bruise under the right kneecap. The Phillies said recently that the bruised healed and Eflin is now dealing with right patellofemoral pain. He has had multiple knee surgeries, including a repair of the right patellar tendon last year.

— Scott Lauber

It’s really hard for me to see how Marco Gonzales makes any sense for the Phillies except as a straight up salary dump by the Mariners. Even then, there’s some question whether Gonzales is even worth the $21 million or so that the Phillies would owe him through 2024.

I would guess that’s why the latest report from Jayson Stark says there isn’t any traction toward a deal.

Dombrowski can’t afford to be fooled by Gonzales’ 3.95 ERA. That’s largely a product of the pitcher’s paradise that is Seattle. Away from Safeco field, he’s averaging a little over 5 innings per start with a 4.47 ERA with an opponents’ batting line of .295/.359/.514. That’s what we in the business like to refer to as, “not good.”

In his last four starts, Gonzales has allowed 18 earned runs in 24 innings. His peripheral stats are laughable: 4.9 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, 1.5 HR/9. This would be a less meaningful impact than Kyle Gibson last season.

If the price is right — like, free — then maybe. Even then, though, is he really worth the payroll?

— David Murphy

If you were hoping to get a glimpse of Juan Soto at Citizens Bank Park this weekend, you will be disappointed.

The Phillies, however, will rejoice.

According to multiple reports, the Washington Nationals are on the verge of finalizing a trade that would send Soto to the San Diego Padres. It’s a blockbuster — shortstop C.J. Abrams, outfielders Robert Hassell III and James Wood, and right-hander Jarlin Susana (San Diego’s No. 1, 2, 4, and 10 prospects in Baseball America’s rankings), plus 23-year-old left-hander MacKenzie Gore are in the deal, according to The Athletic — that will boost the Padres’ chances of securing a wild-card spot in the National League. San Diego acquired All-Star closer Josh Hader on Monday and may also be getting first baseman Josh Bell in the deal with the Nationals.

But while the Phillies are vying with the Soto-enhanced Padres and the St. Louis Cardinals for two playoff spots, they also have 11 games remaining with the everything-must-go Nationals, including a four-game series that begins Thursday night in Philadelphia.

Washington had the worst record in baseball even with Soto, widely regarded as the best pure hitter in baseball. Without him, well, turn out the lights.

The Phillies actually held Soto in check, relatively speaking, this season. He was 6-for-27 (.222) with one homer, four walks, and a .323 on-base percentage in seven games. But he has terrorized the Phillies, like most teams, throughout his career. He’s a .300/.431/.579 hitter with 18 homers in 67 games since 2018.

Not for nothing, the Phillies won’t miss Bell, either. He hit four of his 14 homers against them in a five-game series in Washington in June.

— Scott Lauber

The Washington Nationals have agreed to trade 23-year-old superstar Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres in a blockbuster trade deadline deal, according to multiple reports.

MLB Network insider Jon Morosi was first to report the deal, which has been confirmed by ESPN.

The Padres are also acquiring Nationals first baseman Josh Bell. In exchange, Washington will reportedly get 23-year-old left-hander MacKenzie Gore and four top prospects: pitcher Jarlin Susana, outfielders Robert Hassell III and James Wood, and shortstop C.J. Abrams.

The Nationals were also initially going to get first baseman Eric Hosmer, but he reportedly has a no-trade clause to the Nationals declined to be traded to Washington.

“That is probably the most substantive deal in deadline history,” wrote longtime New York Post columnist Joel Sherman.

— Rob Tornoe

The Phillies have been scouting Los Angeles Angels starter Noah Syndergaard’s recent starts, per sources. Syndergaard, 29, is a free agent at the end of this season and is owed about $7 million for the rest of the season. Syndergaard wouldn’t cost much prospect-wise, which is appealing to the Phillies, an organization that has been trying to build its farm system.

Syndergaard has a 3.83 ERA this season through 15 games started. He has been pitching on six days of rest, while the Phillies have a five-man rotation, so Syndergaard would have to adjust to a different workload if he were traded to the Phillies.

— Alex Coffey

The San Diego Padres appear to be the frontrunners to land Washington Nationals star Juan Soto, according to the Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga.

“With respect to Juan Soto, I am more confident than ever that he is going to be traded by 6 p.m. Eastern time today,” MLB Network insider Jon Morosi said Tuesday morning on MLB Central. Though Morosi also reminded viewers the Padres were in a similar position last year with the Nationals and ended up losing out on Max Scherzer, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Morosi said the St. Louis Cardinals and Dodgers could also be in the running for Soto.

According to MLB insider Mark Feinsand, the asking price for Soto is high — “A package of four top prospects in addition to at least one young Major League player.” But even after acquiring star closer Josh Hader from the Milwaukee Brewers, the Padres still have top prospects C.J. Abrams, Robert Hassell III, James Wood and Jackson Merrill to include in a potential deal.

— Rob Tornoe

If it was an audition, Nathan Eovaldi mostly nailed it.

On the eve of Tuesday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline, with the starting pitching market thinning, the Boston Red Sox right-hander pitched into the seventh inning for the first time since May 28 and held the powerful Houston Astros to two unearned runs on four hits and two walks.

Surely the Phillies were watching.

Eovaldi, 32, with a big-game postseason pedigree, is presumably available, as the Red Sox attempt to thread a buy/sell needle. At 52-52, Boston wants to add controllable pieces. Eovaldi’s contract expires after the season and therefore is unlikely to yield the top-prospect return that Cincinnati got for Luis Castillo and Oakland for Frankie Montas.

Another potential convenience to an Eovaldi-to-the-Phillies deal: The decision-makers on both sides have agreed previously on his value.

In 2018, Dave Dombrowski was running the Red Sox’s baseball operations when he acquired Eovaldi from the Tampa Bay Rays, who were led by current Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom. The return was lefty Jalen Beeks, ranked by Baseball America at the time as Boston’s 11th-best prospect. A potential 2022 Phillies equivalent may be double-A lefty Erik Miller.

Eovaldi delivered for Dombrowski in 2018. He beat the Yankees in Game 3 of the division series and the Astros in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, then made three relief appearances in the World Series, including a six-inning effort in an 18-inning loss in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium. After the postseason, Dombrowski signed Eovaldi to the four-year, $68 million contract extension that runs through this season.

If there’s a concern for teams interested in Eovaldi, it would be that he missed five weeks with a back/hip injury. His fastball averaged 94.1 mph Monday night, down from his season average of 96.2 mph but consistent with his velocity since his return to the mound last month.

The Phillies have also looked into Los Angeles Angels right-hander Noah Syndergaard, who is likely to be traded before 6 p.m.

But the Phillies have signaled to teams that top pitching prospects Andrew Painter, Mick Abel, and Griff McGarry are off limits, which took them out of the bidding for Castillo and Montas and would prevent them from getting in on Miami’s Pablo López and probably Cincinnati’s Tyler Mahle. It remains unclear whether the San Francisco Giants will make lefty Carlos Rodón available.

— Scott Lauber

The Phillies are among the teams involved “in talks” to acquire pitcher Noah Syndergaard from the Los Angeles Angels, according to the MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman also reported Tuesday morning the Phillies are in on Syndergaard:

Here’s what Inquirer Phillies beat reporter Scott Lauber wrote about Syndergaard:

» READ MORE: Phillies at the trade deadline: Sizing up potential starting pitcher targets

— Rob Tornoe

The Phillies checked in on center fielder Brett Phillips after he was designated for assignment by the Rays on Monday, per sources. Adding a defensive centerfielder is one of the Phillies needs ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline, and Phillips, who has 13 defensive runs saved (DRS) over 1275 innings played in center field, would fill that quota for them.

Beyond having plus defense, Phillips, 28, is fast and is an elite defender at all three outfield positions — which would give the Phillies some flexibility — and has a plus plus arm. He also ranks second in baseball in outfield jumps, and first in baseball in outs above average (OAA) for outfielders, with 10, per baseballsavant.com. For context, Odúbel Herrera has +3 OAA, Matt Vierling has +1, Kyle Schwarber has -5, and Nick Castellanos has -8.

Phillips, a six-year veteran, would bring a good clubhouse presence too. The one thing that’s lacking is hit bat. He has some power, but is in the midst of his worst offensive season (he’s hitting .147/.255/.250 with a .475 OPS). He is a career .190/.276/.350 hitter.

If Phillips isn’t traded by 6 p.m., he’ll go through waivers.

— Alex Coffey

Reading Fightin Phils catcher Logan O’Hoppe says he isn’t paying attention to rumors as the trade deadline approaches. Instead the 22-year-old spent his Monday night signing autographs at Carl’s Cards & Collectibles in Havertown.

“My focus has been don’t screw up the signatures,” O’Hoppe said with a laugh. “I’m happy that I had something to distract me a little, but I’ve just been trying to keep my phone off. I’m trying to focus on our game tomorrow. It’s a little tougher not having a game today. Not much to focus on and have anything distract yourself, but that’s kind of where my head’s at.”

O’Hoppe, a top prospect, was selected by the Phillies in the 23rd round of the 2018 draft out of West Islip, N.Y. His path to the majors with the Phillies appears to be blocked by the highest-paid catcher in baseball, J.T. Realmuto.

O’Hoppe said he has stayed off Twitter and hasn’t heard from the organization. He says Philly is the place he wants to be.

“It’s a team that believed in me when I was 18 in the 23rd round,” O’Hoppe said. “It definitely has a special place in my heart.”

» READ MORE: Prospect Logan O’Hoppe talks trade deadline rumors, future with Phillies

— Isabella DiAmore

The MLB trade deadline is 6 p.m. Tuesday, a few days later than normal.

Traditionally, the trade deadline falls on July 31, but thanks to this year’s new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the MLB Players Association, commissioner Rob Manfred is now able to set the deadline on any day between July 28 and Aug. 3.

Regardless, after the trade deadline expires, players can no longer be traded from club to club. But players can still be placed and claimed on outright waivers.

The MLB Network will begin live coverage at 9 a.m. with MLB Central, and will stay live across all its studio shows throughout the day. A special four-hour MLB Tonight will air live beginning at 3 p.m. Insiders Jon Morosi, Jon Heyman, Joel Sherman, Peter Gammons, Jayson Stark, Mark Feinsand, and Tom Verducci will contribute throughout MLB Network’s coverage.

ESPN will air Baseball Tonight: Trade Deadline Special starting at 4 p.m., featuring Karl Ravech, Eduardo Perez, Tim Kurkjian, Buster Onley, Kiley McDaniel, and Jeff Passan.

— Rob Tornoe