Five Best Trade Partners for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chris Archer

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CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 07: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game on March 07, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 07: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game on March 07, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have a very top-heavy rotation. 2018 Cy Young candidate Aaron Nola has a very good chance of reproducing numbers closer to 2018 than to 2019, and off-season signee Zack Wheeler are two very good starters. However, past that, the Phillies are left with many question marks.

Former Cubs ace and Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta pitched poorly last year, and his velocity on all his pitches are trending in the wrong direction. He has been on a decline since 2017. Zach Eflin, Vince Velasquez, and Nick Pivetta are also in the running for another rotation spot, but none of them are very good options. None of the three produced league average results last season, and do not exactly have a good history, either.

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The Phillies do not have nearly as deep of a farm system as the Braves, however, but that doesn’t mean they are devoid of any talent. One name that might be brought up is their 24th best prospect, Deivy Grullon. Grullon is a slugging catching prospect. He hit very well at Triple-A last season, slashing .283/.354/.496 with 21 home runs, and 115 wRC+. According to MLB Pipeline, his best tool is his arm at a 65 grade, but overall he isn’t a great fielder, coming in at a 45 grade with the leather. Regardless, he still has a career 29% caught stealing percentage. However, Grullon is a bit on the older side, as he will be 24 in 2020, so the Pittsburgh Pirates may also want to ask for another high upside player in the deal.