MLB NEWS

Current Phillies group on borrowed time

The Sports Xchange

July 22, 2015 at 9:12 pm.

Phillies LogoPHILADELPHIA — Fans at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday afternoon had the pleasure of watching a walk-off win, a rarity when it comes to their rebuilding club.

But the victory may have also been a curtain call for the 2015 Philadelphia Phillies.

The team heads to Wrigley Field in Chicago to start a five-game road trip on Friday. With the July 31 trade deadline quickly approaching, significant changes could be in order for the pro-selling Phillies. By the time they return home on July 30, who knows what they’ll look like.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Philadelphia interim manager Pete Mackanin said of what will transpire with his team at the deadline. “I don’t know what is going on in the trade thing. We’ll have to wait and see, but as it stands right now, the guys who are here are just playing to win games and that is all I can ask.”

Thanks to a 5-4 win in 10 innings over the Tampa Bay Rays, the Phillies (34-63) won back-to-back series for the first time this season and improved to 5-1 to start the second half.

But this group is likely on borrowed time. The Phillies conceded a rebuild last offseason and openly stated they don’t expect to contend until at least 2017. They have trade chips and could be active in the coming days.

Left-hander Cole Hamels is Philadelphia’s No. 1 prize. It also has veterans in first baseman Ryan Howard, catcher Carlos Ruiz, as well as injured second baseman Chase Utley and right-hander Aaron Harang. Outfielders Ben Revere and Jeff Francoeur could also be had.

And, of course, All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon, who has a 1.63 ERA without a blown save, has long desired a trade to a contender.

He threw two scoreless innings Wednesday to earn a win. Was it his last game at home?

“I have no idea,” Papelbon, the Phillies’ all-time saves leader, said. “You have to ask our general manager (Ruben Amaro Jr.) that question or (2016 president) Andy MacPhail, or one of those guys.”

Has he heard anything — rumors or discussion?

“No, man,” Papelbon said. “Haven’t heard nothing about it. I go to work and I prepare to get guys out on whatever team I’m on. It don’t matter.”

What does matter is deadline actions will go a long way in the remake of the Phillies.

“Well it happens every year and I’ll be perfectly honest with you, in the coaches’ room, nobody talks about it,” Mackanin said. “And in the clubhouse, I don’t see anybody talking about it. They might, but I don’t see it as an issue.”