After making several trades to upgrade their bullpen the last few days, the Phillies have continued to explore options as the trade deadline approaches. It's a weird season for significant trades, and Jon Marks had to ask: is Matt Klentak GM-ing for his job?
"I read that. I don't know that. I think he is probably going to be ok," said MLB Insider Jon Heyman on Friday afternoon.
Heyman spoke with the Marks & Reese show to talk about the Phillies trade deadline activity and the trade market. He also provided some insight into John Middleton's thought process on Klentak:
"Middleton is a very smart owner, very measured. I don't think he's going to be a Steinbrenner type. He might be in terms of spending, maybe not quite to that degree, but he's been pretty good at spending with Harper, Arrieta and Wheeler.
"I think he's a good owner. I don't see that Klentak is on the firing line at this point. I see it's a possibility and I understand the team has been around .500 for a few years after spending money, so that's a disappointment and you can't rule that out."
For Heyman though, Klentak's job status seems fine.
"I wouldn't put him at the forefront of guys on the hot seat."
Heyman confirmed the rumors that the Phillies were going into this week as buyers:
"Other than Pittsburgh, basically anyone thinks they can win it in the National League and Philadelphia is in that group, so they will be looking to buy."
The Phillies currently have the worst bullpen in MLB with a 7.52 ERA. That group has been marginally better since the additions of Brandon Workman and Health Hembree, but the unit lacks much depth while the top pieces like Hector Neris are under preforming. The Phillies have been linked to other big names like Starling Marte, but as Middleton's concerns about avoiding the luxury tax threshold might handcuff the team on making any big moves.
