A week ago at this time, things were bleak for the Philadelphia Phillies. The team had just been swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates and sat 4.5 games out of first place in the National League East. The deficit would grow to five games after losing 8-4 to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. Now? The Phils are only 2.5 games behind the New York Mets, having just swept the Toronto Blue Jays. Ranger Suarez, Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler all turned in outstanding efforts on the mound this weekend. The rotation is one of baseball’s best and the lineup is deep. The one thing that potentially dampens Philadelphia’s hope for a fourth consecutive playoff season is the bullpen.
Enter Andrew Painter.
The Phillies’ top prospect should be looked at to bolster a suspect group. Their 4.50 ERA ranks 23rd out of 30 teams. Jose Alvarado, who was the team’s best reliever prior to getting suspended for 80 games for a positive PED test, won’t return until the middle of August. Jordan Romano has not worked out as expected in the closer’s role. Promoting Painter and putting him in the bullpen lessens the need to part with a good prospect for a rental. Despite underwhelming numbers in ten Minor League starts (4.82 ERA and seven home runs allowed), his 98 PMH fastball is the tonic for a struggling unit. Keep in mind that Painter missed all of 2023 and 2024 due to Tommy John surgery. Having him transition to a relief role could be a way to “ease” him into dealing with Major League hitters in preparation for making the big club out of Spring Training in 2026.
There is a precedent for this. In 2008, David Price was the top prospect of the Tampa Bay Rays. In September, he was brought up to the Majors and pitched out of the bullpen. In fact, it was Price that recorded the final out of Game 7 of the American League Championship Series to send the Rays to their first World Series appearance. The Phillies are a win now team and need to exhaust all options in order to return to the playoffs. Andrew Painter pitching out of the bullpen to me seems like a logical move. The resident Philles’ fan in the house also agrees with this assessment. Will Dave Dombrowski listen?
Threeunassisted 