Phillies' Mackanin urges team to stay the course as second half begins

MILWAUKEE — The Phillies reconvened here, at Miller Park, for an afternoon workout before normal batting practice. The roster is the same as it was before the four-day break, and there is a good chance that within the next two weeks, it will not look the same.

So Pete Mackanin, manager of the team with the worst record in baseball, thought it best to stress the obvious in a brief chat with his players.

"The next couple of weeks, anything could happen," Mackanin said."You think you're getting traded, you might not. You might. Don't worry about it. Just keep playing. Play hard. See what happens."

Indeed, see what happens. The Phillies do not possess a player that will be a contending team's first choice, but they have pieces to flip in July trades. They have shopped those players — the clear options such as veterans Pat Neshek, Howie Kendrick and Jeremy Hellickson. A major-league source said the Phillies have told other teams that Tommy Joseph is available in a trade; not a surprise, given the Phillies' desire to see Rhys Hoskins in the majors. There is no untouchable player.

So that will hang over the Phillies and most teams in the majors until the July 31 deadline. The market, ignited by a blockbuster trade Thursday between the two Chicago clubs, has not yet become clear. Ten of the 15 teams in the National League entered the second half with losing records. The league is so top heavy that it could prompt more to sell, thus creating more supply than demand.

Kendrick, who turned 34 over the break, is a hitter who could interest some teams. He had a locker here at Miller Park, but Kendrick is not with the Phillies. He stayed in Philadelphia to continue the healing process for his bothersome left hamstring. Kendrick will meet the Phillies in Miami on Monday, be examined by the team's athletic trainers, and could then be cleared to go play in minor-league games.

Either way, it does not appear he will be activated during this road trip, something the Phillies had believed was possible.

They'll need him to play in at least a few games before July 31 to demonstrate his health. The hamstring injury is not major, but a team trading for Kendrick will want to see him on the field before surrendering anything for him. This is, after all, his second stint on the disabled list this season.

Just as last summer, the Phillies are more than willing to supply cash in a deal if it enhances the return. But whatever trades the Phillies execute in July will be less about the returns and more about freeing roster spots for younger players to fill.

There are less conspicuous moves, perhaps involving two other injured players, that could materialize. The Phillies had dangled Cesar Hernandez and Vince Velasquez in trade talks last year. They had a high price affixed to both. They could revisit some of those discussions, if a team comes looking.

Hernandez and Velasquez will likely be activated Monday and Tuesday, respectively, while in Miami. Hernandez (strained abdominal muscle) played in his third rehab game Friday for high-A Clearwater. Velasquez (strained right elbow) threw 70 pitches in five innings Thursday for Clearwater. He would start Tuesday at Marlins Park.

The internal report on Velasquez, Mackanin said, was that he pitched well.

"He feels good," Mackanin said.

It's reasonable to assume Phillies general manager Matt Klentak will complete at least one trade, sending Neshek somewhere. That could open a bullpen spot for Jesen Therrien, a 24-year-old righthander who has struck out 59 and walked seven in 50 1/3 minor-league innings this season.

Mackanin is fine to manage with the mantra he espoused to his players.

"My feeling is there will be some [trades]," Mackanin said. "But that's all I know. Matt doesn't fill me in on that kind of stuff. Which is fine. The less I know, the better."

Mark Appel, who was placed on the triple-A disabled list with a strained right shoulder, was scheduled Friday to undergo an MRI. The team did not yet know the severity of the injury. … Lefthander Elniery Garcia, reinstated from his drug suspension earlier in the week, threw a bullpen session Friday as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Garcia could soon return to game action, assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said. Garcia is on the 40-man roster. … Aaron Nola will face Milwaukee righthander Jimmy Nelson on Saturday. Nola has a 1.53 ERA in his last four starts (29 1/3 innings).