After managing just one playoff win last season, the Philadelphia Phillies are feeling pressure to make meaningful changes. They made a splash by acquiring Miami Marlins starter Jesús Luzardo during the offseason, but their offense—frequently criticized for chasing pitches outside the strike zone—remains largely unchanged. That flaw was a major talking point following their postseason collapse and could prove costly again. Now, Jim Riley of BallCap Sports has proposed a bold one-for-one trade that would use the Phillies’ surplus of starting pitching to address one of their offensive weak spots. “We basically exchanged top prospects,” Riley said, suggesting the Phillies could send top pitching prospect Andrew Painter to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for third baseman Coby Mayo.
Painter, a standout prep arm drafted in 2021, has been working his way back after Tommy John surgery. Though he’s considered nearly untouchable due to his talent and potential, the Phillies’ rotation—featuring Luzardo, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, and Taijuan Walker—is among the best in baseball. If frustrations with third baseman Alec Bohm persist, the team might be more open to creative solutions.
Bohm, who struggled down the stretch last season and continued those struggles into the current campaign with a .237/.273/.311 slash line and just one home run, was already the subject of trade discussions. Mayo, one of the Orioles’ top prospects, could offer more offensive firepower at third base while maintaining the cost-control appeal Bohm provides. “If you’re looking for a bat with power, Mayo might be your guy,” Riley said. “You’d simply flip these two.” While dealing Painter seems unlikely now, the approaching trade deadline could force the Phillies to consider all options.
