The Philadelphia Phillies are 49-52 and over seven games out of first place in the National League East and with the Braves looking like runaways in the division, the Phillies are close enough in the Wild Card race to stay in it and GM Rueben Amaro may try to be a buyer rather than a seller, which is what everyone thinks they will do.
The team is dealing with some injuries, including to star Dominic Brown, who has been the most consistent player for the team and now he is out after having concussion symptoms after making a diving catch and banging his hard on the ground and now he could be out for a bit. The team has been thrilled with how Brown has played and he is hitting .271 with 24 homers before hitting his head and that could spur the Phillies to make a move and Cliff Lee, Michael Young, Carlos Ruiz and Jonathan Papelbon are all on the block.
It's Brown's first full season in the league and he has 69 RBIs for the team with a .847 OPS and has been a consistent bright spot for a mediocre team. The Phillies are ranked 23rd in the league in runs and 11th in batting average and just 19th in on base percentage and while the team looks like sellers at the deadline with names like Michael Young and Jonathan Papelbon, the front office has been adamant that they want to be buyers and the Brown injury could spark that.
"I definitely didn't come here for this," the Phillies closer told MLB.com.
"No, I would like to stay here," Papelbon said. "But if I'm going to have to put up with this year after year, then no, I don't want to be here. Why would you? Why would anybody?"
