The Philadelphia Phillies' 2023 season hasn't gone according to plan. After reaching the World Series last year, Philadelphia had high hopes after adding Trea Turner to their already talented roster. The Phillies currently sit in fourth place in the National League East, sporting a 27-32 record. However, Philadelphia is still expected to be a buyer ahead of the trade deadline barring a truly miserable next month.

With that being said, let's take a look at three early targets for the Phillies ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

Dylan Cease, Chicago White Sox

The odds of the Chicago White Sox trading Dylan Cease are slim. If Cease is made available though, the Phillies should try to acquire him.

Cease has endured his ups and downs in 2023 but is one of the better pitchers in baseball nonetheless. He features the ability to completely change the dynamic of a team's pitching staff. The Phillies feature a top-heavy rotation with minimal depth. Adding Cease to their Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler rotation would give Philadelphia a dynamic pitching staff.

The Phillies need pitching help without question. They currently rank 23rd in team ERA, per MLB.com. They also are just 23rd in batting average against, 17th in WHIP, and 20th in home runs allowed.