Limbo: The Phillies and Next Month’s Trade Deadline

For the past few seasons, we’ve led a relatively uncomplicated life as Phillies fans. The team has been stuck squarely in neutral since 2013, and so each July has brought this accepted understanding that the Phillies would do one thing and one thing only: Sell. From expiring contracts like Chase Utley’s and Jimmy Rollins’s and Jon Papelbon’s to multi-year controllables like Ben Revere and Ken Giles, Ruben Amaro and Matt Klentak have sought to import chips for future success the past few summers. It’s been some time since the club’s been looking to buy and add to a competitive team.