Phillies have no choice but to make this trade to replace Andrew Painter originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Philadelphia Phillies haven't been great over their last 10 games, going 5-5 over that stretch. Just a few months ago, the Phillies were one of the worst teams in baseball, and it almost sounds crazy to say, but with the Atlanta Braves going 6-4 over their last 10, the Phillies needed to take a bigger advantage of situations like that.
That hasn't been the case, though it's a bit tough to blame the Phillies because of who they've played, with the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Cleveland Guardians being their opponents in that span.
Regardless, because the Phillies have played much better in May than they did for much of the beginning of the year, now sitting at 30-29, many are starting to believe that a trade will have to happen for this team to get to the next level and make the postseason.
There are going to be multiple starters available, and it sounds like replacing youngster Andrew Painter will be at the top of the priority list.