Timeline for Phillies prospects still on track, Klentak says

The trade deadline, Matt Klentak said, was never an inflection point in his mind. By being inactive Monday, the Phillies general manager does not view the promotions of some of his top prospects as delayed.

It will simply require other roster maneuvers.

"We will promote young players to the big leagues when those young players are ready to be promoted to the big leagues," Klentak said. "And if we need to create room for them, we will do so. We don't want players to come up to the big leagues only having to be sent back - that we didn't have to rush them. So with our inactivity at the trade deadline, I don't know if that by itself sets back the timeline for any potential promotion. I really don't."

So, when will J.P. Crawford, Nick Williams, Jake Thompson or other prospects arrive to the majors?

"I think there's a decent chance that we will see another promotion of a first-time big leaguer before the season is out," Klentak said. "Whether that is in August or September - there's not a huge separator for me in what month that is. I suspect we will have another somewhat notable promotion before the season is up."

Thompson, 22, has a 2.50 ERA at triple-A Lehigh Valley and has allowed just 10 earned runs in his last 11 starts (741/3 innings). Had the Phillies moved Jeremy Hellickson, it would have cleared a spot in the rotation for Thompson.

A little more time in the minors will not hurt Thompson, who has struck out just 87 in 1292/3 innings. As the Phillies begin to implement workload restrictions on some of their young pitchers, Thompson could ascend to the rotation. Or he too could be shut down.

If the Phillies do make a transaction soon, it could be in the bullpen. Andrew Bailey has a 6.40 ERA and has permitted 10 runs in his last eight appearances.