Phillies Trade Idea Adds Former Cy Young Finalist After Aaron Nola Move
If the Philadelphia Phillies' latest World Series window is closing, it might be time to add a former All-Star pitcher who is all too familiar with the NL East.
The Phillies need another arm, especially after placing struggling veteran Aaron Nola on the injured list on Friday with a right ankle problem. Although there is no indication that Nola will miss extended time, he's also 1-7 with a 6.16 ERA and 11 homers allowed over 49.2 innings.
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Regardless of whether or not the Phillies feel they can trust Nola in the postseason, that shouldn't keep them from at least calling the Athletics about ex-New York Yankees star Luis Severino.
It's been a mixed bag thus far for Severino, who went 11-7 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.7 bWAR for the New York Mets last year. Severino threw six scoreless innings in Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Giants, striking out six and only walking one.
By and large, Severino has been solid in the first season of a three-year, $67 million contract. Although a rough start to May inflated his overall stats, he nonetheless tallied a 3.30 ERA and averaged six innings over his first seven starts.
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Severino is 1-4 with a 4.22 ERA and 1.8 bWAR for an A's team quickly falling in the AL West standings. The Athletics are 5-9 in May and could potentially sell at the deadline.
No one will dispute that Severino is long removed from the dominant righty who posted consecutive top-10 Cy Young finishes for the Yankees in 2017-18. However, he's remained extremely durable the last two years, which is excellent news for a Phillies team chasing its first championship since 2008.
Athletics starting pitcher Luis SeverinoKevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Severino won't come cheap, especially with $25 million guaranteed next year. The two-time All-Star also owns a $22 million player option for 2027, and players at that stage in their career (Severino turns 33 in February 2027) rarely pass on that kind of money.
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The Phillies don't need Severino, per se, not in the way they need another outfield bat. But suppose Severino is available, and the Phillies would rather have him start a playoff game instead of Taijuan Walker or Ranger Suárez.
In that case, the Phillies may as well inquire about a potential trade. Why not go all-in, especially with the Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego Padres still lurking in the NL?
Related: Newest Astros Trade Proposal Features Risky Jose Altuve Decision
Related: Dodgers Make Unfortunate Announcement After Loss to Angels
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They can connect with me, not just by watching me on TV or coming and buying a ticket to a game.' Take the Oasis ball, which can be used indoors and outdoors. Clark told Reines and Muscarello that her favorite color is blue, she likes pastels and her happy places are the water and golf course. So the panels of the Oasis ball are white and light blue, and the light blue panels have what looks like pink and green splashes of paint but is actually an abstract drawing of a golf course. Clark picked up on it right away when she saw the ball. 'That looks like a hole on a golf course!' she exclaimed. Light blue is also the shade used for the pattern on the Envision, an outdoor ball. At first glance, it looks like a maze, but it's really the words 'DREAM BIG.' That phrase is also on the Aspire, an indoor/outdoor ball that at first appears to be white or grey. 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Though Clark had been involved in every step of the design process, seeing the basketballs on a computer screen is very different than holding the finished product. Clark picked up each of the basketballs and examined it, taking note of the different details. She spun each ball and shifted it from one hand to the other. She also studied the design team's white boards, pointing to some of the notes and photos. Though she initially seemed most taken by the Oasis ball, she was fascinated with the Envision's UV technology and said she'd have loved to have had a basketball that revealed 'secret' messages when she was a kid. She also was impressed that Wilson's design team was able to turn a decibel meter reading into a design. 'They're all unique in their own way. They all have different things I love about them,' Clark said. 'I think they each serve their own purpose and are different. 'So I guess you have to buy 'em all!' she added, laughing. 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Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
