No arms available for Phillies

There is no question the Phillies need help at the top of their starting rotation.
The starters have the worste ERA in baseball. Yes, worse than the lowly Washington Nationals.

They needed help prior to Brett Myers going down for the season due to an injury. Now they need even more help.

Not only has the starting pitching put the Phils behind in many games, but its inability to go deep into games has caused the bullpen to be overworked.

So yes, they need a big arm to stick behind ace Cole Hamels.

The problem is that there are no big arms available and there may not be leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.

Here are some of the names that have been mentioned and where their teams stand on trading them:

Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays - He would be at the top of my list, but no way the Jays trade him. Halladay will be a free agent after next season and is a true ace. Toronto is in second place in the AL East, five games behind Boston. No way they make the playoffs, but Toronto can't give up now. Halladay is not going anywhere.

Jake Peavy, San Diego Padres - Not sure that Peave goes anywhere as he is on the shelf with an injury. Peavy also has a no trade clause and has already expressed his desire to stay out west. With the injury I think Peavy will stay with the Padres. I'd love to see him in a Phillies uniform but it's not going to happen.

Roy Oswalt, Houston Astros - I'd take him but the Astros always make a run leading up to the deadline and I can't see them giving up their ace.

Brad Penny, Boston Red Sox - With Halladay and Peavy not on the trade market, Penny has become a hot name. However, the Red Sox just placed Dice-K on the DL and say Penny is not going anywhere. They have a deep staff and do not seem interested in thinning that out, at all. Penny would be in the second tier of pitchers, but with how bad Dice-K has been, I think the Sox will hold on to him.

Jason Marquis, Colorodo Rockies - Rumors have sufficed that the Phillies had a deal to trade JA Happ and prospects to Colorado for Marquis and Ryan Spilborghs. I don't get that. They need to add to their staff and trading one of their starters would make no sense. Besides that, no thanks on Marquis.

Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians - It's possible the Indians would move Lee, but he has not been great with a 4-6 record. He had a great year two years ago but I'm not sure how much he could help the Phillies. Plus, he is another lefty and his name has not come up much in rumors with the Phils.

Erik Bedard, Seattle Mariners - Injury prone, said to be bad in the locker room. No thanks. Seattle in only 2.5 games out of first in the weak AL West anyway.

Aaron Harang, Cincinnati Reds - I'd put Harang in the second tier. Reds are only 4.5 games out right now though. I think the Reds will hang on to him.

The races are so tight and pitching is hard to come by anyway. I can't see a big arm becoming available.

The Phillies have a record of picking up pitching the past few years and the addition of Joe Blanton last July worked out great in the end.

Unfortunately this year it is going to take a bigger move. The arms are just not available.