The Phillies begin a quick two-game trip in Detroit and GM Matt Klentak will be reportedly on hand to scout Tigers left-handed starting pitcher Matthew Boyd.
Related: MLB Rumors: Phillies vs. Braves for Greinke?
However, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman is somewhat skeptical of Boyd, the price he'll command, and the Phillies' likelihood in eventually pulling the trigger.
"From what I'm hearing that bounty (for Boyd) is enormous," Heyman told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Tuesday. "My understanding is (the Tigers) have asked certain teams for established, young, major league stars (in return)—the kind that are making very little that may have a year in the big leagues or so. I think ultimately they would trade (Boyd) in kind of a deal like the (Jose) Quintana deal which was with Chicago crosstown, where Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease—two big, big prospects went."
Boyd, 28, is 6-8 with a 4.13 ERA in 20 starts with a 12.0 SO9 and a gaudy 6.67 strikeout to walk ratio.
"Boy does a guy with the best strikeout to walk ratio in the American League and three years to go, well I wouldn't call him a star by any measure," Heyman warned. "The contract situation and the strikeout to walk ratio—which people look at big time today, I think probably more than they should—means they're going to ask for a haul for him, more than he's probably worth. Philly definitely prefers guys who got years to go, they don't like rentals so he fits into their MO, but I don't think Boyd is getting traded either, ultimately."
With the MLB trade deadline just eight days away, the pitchers market is shrinking up a bit. Heyman doesn't believe Madison Bumgarner will be traded now, as the Giants have climbed into the wildcard race.
"It's a complete sellers market and teams are just kind of waiting," Heyman said. "Might be a little disappointed in the number of guys being traded, just because of what's going on right now in Major League Baseball. Madison Bumgarner and all of those San Francisco Giants relievers may stay because they are on a miracle run, I can't even believe it. They've won 16 out of 19 at this point, everyone had given them up for dead.
"I think we may not see (Trevor) Bauer get traded and we may not see Bumgarner. On the other hand, Texas is slumping and there is a greater possibility (Mike) Minor and (Lance) Lynn will get traded. That will be something, but not the star power that MadBum brings."
You can listen to Jon Heyman on the 94WIP Morning Show below.
