Overview
- In mid-June the Phillies decided not to option Painter to the minors and will keep him in the major-league rotation to work on his command.
- Painter has a 6.43 ERA with weak underlying metrics, a low strikeout rate and five home runs allowed across his last three starts, according to Baseball Savant data cited in coverage.
- The team is weighing external help but reporters say Philadelphia likely lacks the prospect depth to land an elite starter, making swingman or rental targets more realistic.
- Boston veteran Sonny Gray has been mentioned as a possible short-term trade target, though his mutual option and age make him effectively a rental and a costly one at that.
- If Painter improves by throwing more strikes and regaining command the Phillies keep roster flexibility, but continued struggles could force them to temporarily skip his turn or seek immediate low-cost depth.