The Phillies are at a turning point, and one good arm may be the answer. As if their bullpen being a nightmare wasn’t enough, ace Jose Alvarado got suspended. On top of that, the trade deadline is coming up fast, like a freight train that has lost control. It goes unsaid that the Phillies need some help, and it looks like someone has a plan.

Currently, the question isn’t whether the Phillies will make a move; it’s how much they are willing to give up to stop the dam from bursting and ruining their chances of winning the World Series. Perhaps, the answer resides in something so valuable and full of potential that giving it up would be like surrendering a piece of the team’s future. And that’s where Mick Abel comes into the picture.

Meet Mick Abel, a player the Phillies picked in the 2020 draft. He was a first-round choice (15th overall) and a promising high school player in Oregon, but he fell apart in Triple-A during the 2024 season. Later on, top prospect rankings dropped him because he struggled with command, his ERA increased, and his outings caused him to lose confidence. Can he be the one? Perhaps, yes.

Paul Casella of MLB.com suggested that Abel might be the Phillies’ golden ticket to get real help on the field or at least provide some respite. He wrote, “Phillies’ greatest strength being their rotation depth, but that’s been tested recently with the injury to Aaron Nola and the sudden struggles of Jesús Luzardo. That may give the Phillies pause when it comes to offering up Abel, but they’ll have to listen to any offers that may help their needs in the bullpen or the outfield.”

His numbers for 2025 are impressive. He has a great 6-2 record, a 2.21 ERA, and 67 strikeouts in 57 innings at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Abel was called up, and a few weeks later, he made his debut with the Phillies. He shut down the Pirates over six innings, striking out nine batters and not walking any, tying a franchise record.

Undoubtedly, he is a great player, and even Rob Thomson knows it. Recently, he spoke highly of him, “He’s been around now for a few years, and I think he’s learned a lot. He’s confident in his stuff. He understands now to attack hitters and trust his stuff, and that goes a long way.”

The Phillies face a tough choice: do they keep a rising star who could strengthen their rotation for years, or do they trade him for something they need right now? Regardless, one thing is certain: the Phillies need to make a decision soon, or their losing streak might continue.

Phillies in a funk: Nine losses in 10 games

The Phillies are in a rough patch, losing five straight games and nine of their last ten, including two to the Pirates. They’ve only scored one run in four games, are hitting just .189 during this stretch, and are averaging only 2.4 runs per game while their opponents have outscored them 57-22 overall. With a record of 37-28, they are now four and a half games behind the New York Mets in the NL East, marking their longest losing streak of the season.

On Sunday at PNC Park, they only had four hits and scored one unearned run off of Paul Skenes, who had another great game and lowered his ERA to 1.88. The top six batters went 1-for-21, which is part of a worrying trend: since May 1, second basemen, left fielders, center fielders, and catchers have batted a combined .205 with a .611 OPS. That’s the worst mark in MLB, with only the A’s and Rockies ahead of them.

Manager Rob Thomson has hinted at some adjustments, saying, “I’ve been thinking about some different things. We’ll see what happens.”But is anything going in their favor?

Still, even though things are going badly, there are signs of hope: Kyle Schwarber has hit 20 home runs. The offense isn’t swinging at poor pitches; they are making contact with the ball but not hitting it hard enough. This isn’t a collapse; rather, it’s a gradual decline. Thomson and the roster are confident they will turn things around again; it’s only a matter of when, not if.