What Phils are saying about their Deadline additions

This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki’s Phillies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Bryce Harper expected Dave Dombrowski to make a trade or two before Tuesday’s Trade Deadline because that’s what Dombrowski does.

That is exactly what he did.

More than a few people thought the Phillies might find an impact bat, in addition to right-hander Michael Lorenzen and utility infielder Rodolfo Castro. Dombrowski explained Tuesday that the prices were too steep, and he simply believes the star players on the roster will hit to their potential in the season’s final two months.

Harper agreed with that assessment.

“I wasn’t really foreseeing us going and doing anything crazy this Trade Deadline, unless it was like a pitcher or a bullpen guy or something like that,” Harper said following Tuesday’s 3-1 comeback victory over Miami.

“We have so much faith in Dombrowski and what he thinks and how he goes about it,” he continued. “Our Trade Deadline guy was pretty much Trea Turner in free agency. I just think having the team that we do and having the guys that we have in here, we can beat anybody. We can play with anybody. We’ve just got to play our game and understand that we’re really good. We’ve just got to keep battling. We’ve had some good streaks. We’ve had some bad streaks. Hopefully we go through these next two months, put it together and just have some fun.”

Here is what else the Phillies said Tuesday about the Trade Deadline:

Michael Lorenzen, on the Phillies: “The Phillies are a good team, really good team. I played with quite a few of them when I was younger and so it'll be fun to play with them again. It's going to be exciting. Good atmosphere, good city. Yeah, I'm excited for the opportunity.”

Brandon Marsh, on how Lorenzen, his Angels teammate last season, will fit into the clubhouse: “Like a glove, He’s a great guy. He’s awesome. Big biceps, big chest. Nice shoes.”

Rob Thomson, on Castro, who is expected to join the team Wednesday: “Young kid. Plays middle, second and short. Switch-hitter. I guess they sent him down just to hit right-handed and he was struggling against right-handed pitching, so they just moved him back to being a switch-hitter. We’ll have to take a look. I asked if he ever played the outfield. They said no.”

Nick Castellanos, on Lorenzen, his teammate in Cincinnati: “Incredible guy. Super, freak athlete. Has made great plays in the outfield, hit home runs and struck people out. I don’t know who else in the big leagues has done that. [Shohei] Ohtani. … Anytime you get a player from a team that is coming from a team that is … I don’t know the Tigers' record, but I’m guessing they’re not in competition for the postseason if they’re trading away an All-Star player. But I know that when I got traded from the Tigers to the Cubs, having been so long from playing meaningful games to get into October, there definitely can be an energy and a lift from that person just because of how much these next two months might mean to him individually. That’s always good to have around.”

Bryce Harper, on Lorenzen, who he has known since they were kids, playing together on Team USA travel teams: “I won a gold medal with him twice. Really good person, really good player. Great family as well. He’s going to fit in just fine with us. We’re excited to get him and see what he can do for us.”