Why Phillies re-grade of trade deadline moves resulted in a lousy 'C-'

The Philadelphia Phillies have enjoyed a successful stretch since the start of August, winning 21 of their 28 games. This impressive run began in September with a victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Fans might have attributed this success to the moves made during the MLB trade deadline on August 3. The team added Luis Arraez and Brooks Raley, and these signings were initially praised. However, a closer look reveals that the Phillies' trade deadline performance has received a disappointing C- grade.

Johnny Flores Jr. of The Athletic has revised the team's trade deadline report card, acknowledging a largely mediocre deadline. Despite a nine-game winning streak and a crucial win in Anaheim, Flores argues that the new players have not significantly contributed to the team's success. Brooks Raley has a 3.52 ERA in his ten appearances for the Phillies, far worse than his previous 1.96 ERA with the New York Mets.

Caleb Kilian, acquired in the Arraez trade, posted a 13.50 ERA in just four outings and was subsequently placed on the 15-day injured list. Luis Arraez, the most significant addition, has been a net negative for the Phillies in 26 games. He has a .291 batting average and a .704 OPS, resulting in a -0.2 bWAR. This underwhelming performance has overshadowed the potential of Arraez, Raley, and other trade acquisitions, leading to a disappointing C- grade for the Phillies' trade deadline moves.