Dave Dombrowski does nothing at the deadline (again)

4 straight losses. Swept by the Yankees. Another feeble trade deadline for Dave Dombrowski. The team needed a jolt after a blowout loss on Monday and what does Dave Dombrowski do? He adds Tanner Banks. For a guy with the reputation of going all in he has now spent the 4th straight deadline doing nothing and it might cost us again.

I’m not here to panic about how the team is playing because I think we will be ok. Baseball is a weird game and sometimes you can’t control that. However, I just cannot believe that we are now at our 4th straight deadline of doing nothing.

2021 Trade Deadline:

This is what the NL East looked like at the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline. At that deadline the Braves added Eddie Rosario, Jorge Soler, Joc Pederson, Stephen Vogt and Adam Duvall. That same Braves team won the World Series that year. Meanwhile the Phillies who were led by Dave Dombrowski acquired Freddy Galvis, Ian Kennedy and Kyle Gibson. They missed the playoffs again to extend their playoff drought. 

2022 Trade Deadline:

At the 2022 Trade Deadline the Phillies were right in the middle of a wildcard race. Now I’ll give Dombrowski the benefit of the doubt for the Brandon Marsh trade, even though he may have lost the trade value-wise. However, failing to get a SP better than Noah Syndergaard cost this team a potential World Series. There were talks Carlos Rodon was on the table for a package involving Johan Rojas and Dombrowski didn’t bite. Once again this is a guy whose reputation is getting rid of prospects to win-now. He failed to give them the extra starting pitching depth they needed. I know they made the World Series, but we had Noah Syndergaard start a World Series game. You cannot tell me there was not someone better out there. 

2023 Trade Deadline:

Trying to defend their pennant the team clearly needed a bat. Dombrowski got one. His name is Rodolfo Castro and he is currently playing in single-A. The team also needed another reliable arm. Dombrowski got Michael Lorenzen who fell off hard after his regular season no-hitter. Tommy Pham went for nothing and ended up hitting a homer against us in the NLCS. The team came up short and was definitely missing another piece that could have easily been acquired at the deadline. 

2024 Trade Deadline:

This year the Phillies sat at the best record in baseball at the deadline and with the prospects to make any move they wanted. What did Dombrowski do? He traded 3 MLB players and prospects for 3 other MLB players that are (maybe) slightly better.

MLB player wise this deadline was:

Estevez, Hays, Banks

For

Seranthony, Pache, Soto

I can’t even say with 100% confidence that we got better. This team needed to ADD players. Not swap out players who might be a little better. They needed MORE bullpen depth. They got none. I don’t understand how Dombrowski continues to have the reputation of a go all-in guy when this is now the 4th straight deadline he has failed to make a difference maker. If we added these three guys but kept Pache, Seranthony and Soto I would be fine with it. Push those guys down the depth chart and give yourself higher quality guys. But now we don’t have the depth anymore. If these guys end up being bad we are stuck watching Jose Ruiz or Kolby Allard pitch. 

Dombrowski gets far too much credit for this team. Has he built good comradery? Sure I’ll give him that. Has he had success? Yes. But more of the credit should go to John Middleton who is signing the checks of these players. Plus Dombrowski didn’t acquire Nola, Ranger, Sanchez, Bohm, Stott or Realmuto. Previous guys included he didn’t draft Hoskins or trade for Segura. He also didn’t sign Wheeler or Harper. He walked into an amazing situation. Yes he has accomplished more than the previous GM, but he was dealt a great hand. Shoutout to my boy Justin for getting on Philly Sports Talk Radio and saying all that. 

Yong Kim The Inquirer

I’m just wondering what these prospects are even for? We have the majority of our team under control through at least next year. Your window is now. These guys in the minors aren’t helping you win a title at all, especially since most of them are blocked by a current player that is under contract for the next few years.

Can the Phillies turn it around? I think they can. But I don’t know if this team as currently constructed can win it all. They needed more depth and instead made lateral moves. I’m really hoping this rough stretch is a wake up call for these guys. At the end of the day you can’t win the World Series in July. Go Phils.