Philadelphia Phillies

Watch your backs, opposing hitters. There's a gang of gunslingers in the National League East, and they've got their sights aimed at you.

We're not talking about the New York Mets, though their starting rotation is indeed sterling despite some early hiccups.

Per the early results, the recent trade between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies should be referred to not as "the Ken Giles trade," but as "the Vince Velasquez trade."

At least on a knee-jerk level, that's just sound logic. While Giles sits there with an ERA over 12.00 through four appearances out of Houston's bullpen, Velasquez looks like a man on a mission in the Phillies rotation.

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Daniel Stumpf was suspended 80 games Thursday for his first violation of Major League Baseball's policy against performance-enhancing drugs.

The Phillies released a statement following the suspension and made a corresponding roster move:

Will Venable didn't have to wait long to find a new team.

The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Friday they have signed manager Pete Mackanin to a new two-year contract for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. 

The deal also includes a club option for the 2018 season and replaces the contract Mackanin signed back in September of 2015, per the team. 

Maikel Franco has apparently decided on the Kris Bryant route to stardom: hit a whole bunch of dingers in spring training, and then keep right on slugging in the regular season.

A fine choice, indeed. And one that could pay off just as well for Franco as it did for Bryant.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Mark Appel knows all-too-well the answer to this baseball brainteaser: “Who was the lone player taken before 2015 National League Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant in the 2013 MLB Draft?”

Gregg Murphy will want to give extra thanks to his reflexes tonight.

If not for them, the CSN Philly reporter likely would have been the unlucky recipient of a line drive to the head.

Being blinded by the captivating sunset and completely overlooking the edge of the oncoming cliff leads to an obvious outcome. 

The news was stunning, unexpected but completely understandable.

The Houston Astros completed their trade with the Philadelphia Phillies to acquire closer Ken Giles, a flamethrower with huge upside and under club control for the next five seasons. The trade happened Wednesday but was not made official until Saturday afternoon.