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The Philadelphia Phillies are setting up to be one of the most aggressive teams at this year’s MLB trade deadline. Firmly entrenched in the Wild Card race and 4.5 games behind the New York Mets in the NL East, the Phillies are expected to be in the market for relief pitching.
While closer Jose Alvarado serves an 80-game suspension and is no longer eligible for the postseason, the team has turned to Jordan Romano with frustrating results. In 23.1 innings, the former All-Star has struggled, allowing 28 hits and 12 walks, leading to a 7.71 ERA. As a whole, the bullpen ranks 25th with a 4.56 ERA, proving further why adding one or two pieces will be crucial to keep Philadelphia in a crowded NL playoff hunt.
Sports Illustrated’s Dylan Sampson recently listed relief pitcher Felix Bautista as a potential fit for the Phillies' bullpen.
Once a core player to a hopeful Baltimore Orioles perennial playoff contender, Bautista is one of the hottest names on the trade block. While Baltimore is not a confirmed deadline seller, trading Bautista may further strengthen their farm system, setting up the potential for star-caliber acquisitions in the offseason.
Although Bautista’s star has fallen slightly after Tommy John Surgery cost him the entire 2024 season, he has rebounded well. In 21.2 innings of work, the 30-year-old has posted a 3.32 ERA, 28 strikeouts, and 12 saves in 2025.
His fastball velocity has dipped post-surgery, but the former All-Star still has the track record any team would want come time for the playoffs. In 2023, Bautista notched 33 saves and 110 strikeouts over 61 innings en route to an All-Star game nod. While he may not be the same player, banking on Bautista in a late-inning role is the aggressive move Phillies’ president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, is known to make.
More must-reads:
- Yankees eyeing Rockies one-time All-Star as backup plan at third base
- Four teams that should be sellers at the trade deadline
- The 'Multiple 100-RBI MLB seasons' quiz
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Alex Cora Hints at Red Sox Reunion With Slugger Kyle Schwarber
The Boston Red Sox don't get enough heat for allowing Kyle Schwarber to walk. Schwarber has been arguably the top power hitter in Major League Baseball outside of a few guys over the past few years, continuing to do so during the 2025 campaign with 33 bombs and 75 RBIs. Ultimately, the Red Sox allowed him to leave, and it isn't anything they can do now. However, the left-handed hitting designated hitter is set to hit the free agency market at the end of the campaign, and with the Philadelphia Phillies having some question marks about their future regarding his status, some believe there's an opportunity for him to join a new team. When asked about the situation, Alex Cora sounded as though he wanted the Red Sox to add him again, which might be a possibility considering what the team needs moving forward. “Alex Cora, before the game, when asked if he was intrigued by how Kyle Schwarber's free agency was going to go: ‘Very. Very intrigued.’ How intrigued? ‘Very,’” Rob Bradford of Audacy reported. Schwarber is likely just a designated hitter at this stage of his career, and there's certainly not much of a chance for him to play the outfield in Boston, considering just how loaded they are now. However, he also played 10 games at first base for the Red Sox during the 2021 campaign. With all the questions surrounding the Red Sox at the position, is it possible that Schwarber would be willing to play first base if they paid him a bit more? That might not be the best idea defensively, but a bat like his is tough to keep out of the lineup.
Carter Hart, others found not guilty in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial
Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Callan Foote, Michael McLeod and Alex Formenton have been found not guilty by Justice Maria Carroccia in London, Ontario, according to reporting from The Athletic, after being charged in connection with an alleged sexual assault involving the 2018 Canadian men’s national junior team. Carroccia said that she did not find E.M.’s [the alleged victim] evidence “credible or reliable,” in explaining her reasoning. “Having found that I cannot rely upon the evidence of E.M. and then considering the evidence in this trial as a whole, I conclude that the Crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts before me,” Carroccia said. The allegations against Dube, Foote, Formenton, Hart and McLeod first became public in May of 2022, when reports emerged that Hockey Canada had paid to settle a lawsuit with a woman, known in court documents as E.M., who said she was sexually assaulted by eight players “over several hours” in a London hotel room on July 18, 2018. No charges were levied as a result of the initial investigation by local police, which was closed in February 2019, but the case was reopened after the 2022 report. Formal charges were then brought against the five defendants on Jan. 30, 2024. The trial began on April 22, 2025, and the verdicts were reached solely by Justice Carroccia after two mistrials influenced her to dismiss the jury. The NHL does not have a formal policy for players accused of or charged with domestic violence, sexual assault or similar crimes. Instead, the four players who were under NHL contracts at the time – Dube, Foote, Hart and McLeod – were granted indefinite leaves of absence by their clubs shortly before the charges were announced. All of them were pending restricted free agents on expiring contracts and were not extended qualifying offers, making them unrestricted free agents as of July 1, 2024. When asked about the playing eligibility of the defendants, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has continually deferred action until after a verdict was reached. While none of the players are formally suspended by the league, similar situations have routinely required some sort of permission from league offices for them to play in or return to the NHL. If teams approach any of them with a contract offer, they will presumably wait for that guidance before registering the deal.
Canucks Reportedly Interested in Former Third-Overall Pick as Another Young Player Could Leave the Team
The Canucks are reportedly quite interested in Ducks' Mason McTavish, this news coming after one of their young NCAA players, Jackson Kunz, could leave the team. With $3.25 million of free cap space now available after Dakota Joshua was sent to Toronto, the Vancouver Canucks and GM Patrik Allvin have room to add a significant piece, and it seems that they may be after a former third overall choice. Vancouver is interested in Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish, a restricted free agent, reports The Province's Patrick Johnston. 'Hence their continued interest in Roslovic, as well as their interest in Mason McTavish, the Anaheim Ducks' restricted free agent. Of course adding McTavish, the third-overall pick in the 2021 draft, will be very hard: he's a highly-regarded player with huge upside and will cost a big price in trade, perhaps more than the Canucks can afford.' Johnston said. It won't be an easy feat to get him due to asset limitations and Anaheim's stance on his next deal, but the 22-year-old would be a perfect fit as the Canucks' second-line center. After playing his inaugural 20-goal NHL campaign, McTavish offers skill and grit, two qualities that the Canucks may covet during a playoff push. While a few large-name players are available on the free market, Vancouver is considering trades as well as free agent solutions in the latter half of the offseason. Making a bold move for a player like McTavish wouldn't be out of character with the needs of the team. The Canucks need to sign their important NCAA prospect by August 15th Meanwhile, the Canucks are also under pressure in another direction. The deadline on August 15th is coming up to sign NCAA prospects graduating after four years. If they don't sign them, they'll become unrestricted free agents. The key concern is forward Jackson Kunz. If he isn't signed by August 15, 2025, he'll land on the open market. In the midst of a potential blockbuster trade and looming NCAA deadlines, the next several weeks can be make-or-break for Vancouver.
Bucks executive opens up on Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors
The Milwaukee Bucks' decision to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard sparked even more Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors on social media. There were already reports that Antetokounmpo was considering his options and potentially forcing his way out of Milwaukee, and the Lillard move did little to alleviate the situation. Nevertheless, the weeks have gone by, and Antetokounmpo is still a Buck. More importantly, the team believes that's not going to change any time soon. "We have no indication that anything is really changing as far as our relationship with the player we think is the best in the world," a Bucks front office executive told Spotrac's Keith Smith. "We rebuilt on the fly, in a really challenging situation, but we think we did it as well as it could be done." Antetokounmpo trade rumors have cooled off around the league, and while anything can happen in the NBA, that doesn't seem likely at this point. "Do I think the star guys like Giannis (Antetokounmpo) or LeBron (James) are going to go anywhere? Nope. Is it possible? Sure is," said a Western Conference executive. Giannis chose to stay in Milwaukee with one of the most lucrative contract extensions in NBA history. He was overly critical of the team's effort last season, and another early playoff exit may have driven him to the edge. Even so, he's talked about how he wants to win "the right way," as opposed to chasing rings. That said, with head coach Doc Rivers' long list of questionable postseason performances and a championship window that could be closing right before their eyes, Giannis trade rumors will flood social media again if the Bucks get off to a slow start during the 2026-26 campaign.
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