Bryce Harper Wants Phillies to Get Some Help Ahead of Trade Deadline Amid Recent Slump

Since the All-Star Break, the Philadelphia Phillies have a 3-8 record and have lost 6 of their last 7 games.

Bryce Harper Wants Phillies to Get Some Help Ahead of Trade Deadline Amid Recent Slump

Bryce Harper (Image via X/@MLB)

On Tuesday, the Philadelphia Phillies lost 1-0 against the Miami Marlins as their bats went cold once again. Following the game, Bryce Harper expressed that they needed some help with reinforcements ahead of the trade deadline next Monday.

The 2026 season has been a rollercoaster ride for the Phillies so far. They did not have the best of starts and had a 10-game losing streak in April. After a 9-19 start, they relieved manager Rob Thompson of his duties and named Don Mattingly as the interim manager.

Under Mattingly, the team improved a lot. They ended the first half of the season with a 54-43 record and were firmly back in the race for the playoffs. The start of the second half, though, has once again raised questions.

In 11 games after the All-Star Break, they won just 3 of them. Following an 8-7 loss on Monday, they were shut out by the Marlins on Tuesday. This meant that the NL East side had lost 4 straight series to begin the second half of the campaign.

With the trade deadline inching closer, Harper has asked for help from the team. The 9-time All-Star did not hold back and said “both” when a reporter asked whether the team needed a bat or a pitcher as reinforcements.

I think we need some help. But I think we’ve proved pretty much all year we’ve done a pretty good job. But anytime you can get some help in here and reinforcements, I think it helps.

Bryce Harper told the reporters

A major concern for the Phillies in this stretch has been their offense. Since the All-Star break, the defeat on Tuesday was the 6th time they failed to score more than 1 run. For the season, this was the 26th time this had happened, the most of any team in baseball.

As for Harper, July had not been a productive month for him. In 22 games, he has managed just 2 home runs and 9 RBIs while batting with a .165 average. In June, he had a .305 average in 27 games with 7 home runs and 20 RBIs.

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Phillies reportedly scouted Tarik Skubal ahead of the trade deadline

One of the biggest names in trade talks this year has been Tarik Skubal. As per recent reports, the Philadelphia Phillies have been one of the teams that have scouted the Detroit Tigers pitcher.

Tarik Skubal
Tarik Skubal (Image via X/@JustBB_Media)

Skubal is in the final year of his contract and is expected to become a free agent in the offseason. With the Tigers 6 games under .500 after their game on Tuesday, there are speculations that they could trade away their ace pitcher.

While some of the big-market teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers are linked with a move for him, the Phillies are also said to be on the lookout for him.

As per insider Jon Morosi, the Phillies scouted Skubal during his start against the Kansas City Royals over the weekend.

In the start against the Royals, Skubal once again dominated from the mound. The 2-time Cy Young Award winner picked up 12 strikeouts in 7.1 innings.

Skubal is sitting on 999 strikeouts and needs 1 more to reach the 1,000 club. He is scheduled to start against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Though the Phillies have scouted him, it remains to be seen whether they will make a move for him. At the moment, they have a pitching rotation that consists of Zach Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola.

While Nola has struggled a bit, the other three have been in top form this season. A potential move of Skubal could see them pair him up with Wheeler and Sanchez at the top of the rotation. Only time will tell what happens next with the Phillies and Skubal.

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