Are the Philadelphia Phillies & Houston Astros Interested in Cody Bellinger?

[Bertz]

The Philadelphia Phillies are an absolute powerhouse this season, currently sporting the best record in the game. One of their few holes in the lineup are at center field; Johan Rojas currently leads the team in plate appearances at the position and his dismal 60 OPS+ is a clear spot to upgrade down the stretch.

The Phillies will have some choice in acquisitions, though. Along with Cody Bellinger potentially being available (pending medical results of his hit by pitch last night), the White Sox are looking to trade Luis Robert Jr.and the Marlins recently announced Jazz Chisholm Jr.is also on the block.

While that's stiff competition, a healthy Bellinger should require far fewer trade assets to acquire.

It's Ralph so take with all appropriate grains of salt.

Edit: Additionally, it appears the Houston Astros, a team that has completely turned it around after a bad start to the season, are also interested in the services of Bellinger.

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[Tryptamine]

10 minutes ago, Bertz said:

It's Ralph so take with all appropriate grains of salt

 

They'd have to get pretty creative with a return here. Obviously Painter and Abel and probably Miller aren't on the table. Their most interesting and potentially actually available prospects are super far away. Eduardo Tait is interesting, but he's also at bare minimum 4 years away. Caba is super interesting but might not be available and he's also very very far away. 

[Post Count Padder]

As a Cubs fan who lives in Philly and follows the Phillies a bit too, I have looked at their farm often. I like guys like William Bergolla and Gabriel Rincones a lot. Neither would be a headliner for Bellinger though.  Abel's stock has slipped a bit so it makes you wonder if he's not off the table. I assume Painter and Miller and maybe Crawford are untouchable. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

Testing trying a new thing.

[KCCub]

It’s Bowden again, but a little more Belli chatter - 

 

[CubinNY]

(without the cheating) The Astros are what the Cubs were supposed to be. 

[squally1313]

6 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

(without the cheating) The Astros are what the Cubs were supposed to be. 

Their development system is leaps and bounds ahead of us. In the last three years total they've gotten double digit WAR from Altuve, Alvarez, Tucker, Bregman, and Framber, all basically homegrown (Yordan was a Dodgers signing but came up through the Astros system). Plus Jeremy Pena as a league minimum shortstop, Christian Javier. The Cubs best player the last three years is Nico, the only guy to put up double digit WAR over that span. Happ and Steele aren't far off, but after that it's all external (expensive) signings: Seiya, Cody, Swanson, Stroman, Taillon.

[KCCub]

Bowden also saying the Braves have shown interest in Bellinger -

 

Phillies and Braves battling it out for him would be interesting. 

[Eeyore]

I understand that the Cubs would prefer to dump Bellinger's salary but don't be shocked to see Tauchman shipped out instead.