The real lesson from the Phillies’ MLB trade deadline

The game has changed.

But I’m not quite sure the Phillies realized it quickly enough.

As the MLB trade deadline arrived yesterday, we saw all sorts of different team-building approaches. While we’re all screaming to “go for it!” and “make a big move!” most teams didn’t. Other than the always-aggressive Padres, teams weren’t willing to meet sticker prices on stars. It’s why Steven Kwan is still in Cleveland and Joe Ryan is still in Minnesota.

Yet something is now crystal clear, and it’s a bigger indictment on Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies front office than anything you think (or don’t think) about Harrison Bader.