Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is now less than a week away and with the Phillies looking to be buyers, the minor league system could be used as the form of payment.

It is likely that the IronPigs roster could take a hit as the big league club looks to fill holes that could keep them from returning to the World Series.

The Phillies would like to find a corner outfielder and/or a starting pitcher. One player who could fill both of those holes is Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels. As a two-way player, Ohtani would be the perfect fit position wise, but he has said both that he would like to stay with the Angels and that he would like to pursue free agency following the season.

The fact that any team that acquires him could lose him to free agency in a few months could scare some teams away since the price tag could be prohibitive to re-sign him.

The Angels are said to want a huge stash of players in exchange. As with most teams talking trade with the Phillies, the first names on the list are minor league pitchers Mick Abel and/or Griff McGarry, both of whom are pitching at Double-A Reading. With top pitching prospect Andrew Painter likely needing Tommy John surgery, it would be emptying the cupboard to deal both of the pitchers. Other names like Johan Rojas, who is getting a surprise audition with the Phillies and IronPigs outfielder Simon Muzziotti are being thrown around.

Plus, the Angels are also said to want major league talent like Alec Bohm and/or Aaron Nola. Like Ohtani, Nola’s contract expires at the end of the season, and he could become a free agent, so including him might not be a deal breaker, but Bohm should be.

Then, there’s outfielder Juan Soto of the Padres. Again, the price tag would be high. Soto is being paid $23 million this season and is eligible for free agency following the season and will likely cost the Phillies either Abel or McGarry and one other player, potentially Rojas. A big question the Phillies have to ask themselves is what Soto’s attitude and flashy style would do to the chemistry of the current Phillies clubhouse. Plus, he would only add to the group of left-handed hitting players on the roster.

The IronPigs do not have a stockpile of prospects on their roster. Muzziotti is hitting .345 this season and is attractive to other teams, but much of the roster is made up of guys who are more of the veteran variety and are looking for a pathway back to the majors. Darick Hall, who was recently optioned back to the Pigs from Philadelphia, is another player that could interest some teams.

The Phillies have an interest in either Tommy Pham or Mark Canha from their inter-division rival New York. With the Mets sliding out of contention and both Pham and Canha on expiring contracts, either could be dealt. Both are right-handed hitters, and both carry a far lower price tag than Ohtani or Soto. Both are also known to be popular among teammates and both also play the outfield.

The fan base will not be happy if the Phillies simply stay quiet at the deadline and team president Dave Dombrowski is known for being willing to give up young players at the deadline, sometimes to the detriment of the long-term success of an organization. The Phillies minor league system is fragile at best and certainly not deep which already gives some concern for the future.

LATE BLOOMERS?

... Lehigh Valley finished the first half with a 36-37 record leaving them fourth in the International League East. The second half has been a different story though with the team having won nine of their last 10 games and sporting a 13-7 record that has them tied for the top spot with Worcester, the Red Sox top affiliate. Buffalo (Blue Jays) and Norfolk (Orioles) are one game back of the top spot and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Yankees) are 1 1/2 games out. The Syracuse Mets (33-41, 6-14) are in town this week to face the IronPigs.

GRADUATION PRESENT

… Aidan Miller got a better graduation present than most high school grads. The Phillies reportedly gave him $3.1 million to sign with them and begin his professional career. The Phillies brought Miller, who was the 27th overall pick in the draft, to town last week to show him around Citizens Bank Park, meet the players, and take some batting practice.

ALUMNI REPORT

… Cristopher Sanchez has been brilliant since rejoining the Phillies to become their fifth starter. Sanchez went seven innings against Baltimore Monday night for his longest outing in the majors and he also set a new personal record for strikeouts in a game with eight. Also doing well is former IronPigs and Phillies outfielder Mickey Moniak. The former number-one overall pick of the Phillies is slashing to the tune of 11-for-34 (.331/.362/.615) with the Angels after being dealt in the trade that brought Noah Syndergaard to Philly.