Phillies: Three blockbuster trade candidates for the bullpen
The Phillies need to upgrade their bullpen before it’s too late
Through the first three games of the season the Phillies bullpen has been, as many expected, a total disaster. The team opted for youth in the shortened season, allowing Francisco Liriano and Anthony Swarzak to walk away before the season started.
In their first game the Phillies saw rookie Ramon Rosso blow a solid start from Aaron Nola, allowing two inherited runners to score with two wild pitches and a double.
On Sunday after Vince Velasquez failed to pitch past the third inning, the bullpen was put to the test and crumbled. Cole Irvin gave up a run and was pulled in the fifth for Reggie McClain. His first pitch was served up as a three run home run, giving Irvin four earned runs allowed on the day.
Nick Pivetta, who lost the fifth starter’s job to Vince Velasquez, allowed two runs and gave up two walks in three and a third innings.
Hector Neris came in and got the last two outs, but it didn’t ease the pain of knowing two games against the Marlins were lost because of the bullpen.
With the trade deadline on August 31, the Phillies have a couple of weeks to stay in the hunt and keep an eye out for a veteran reliever or two. Here are three guys they might be able to trade for.
Are the Phillies due for a reunion with Ken Giles at the MLB trade deadline?
For the last couple of years there have been Phillies trade rumors circling around former top pitching prospect Ken Giles. The Phillies enjoyed the yearly years of 100 Mile Giles, but he came up a couple years too late to join the powerhouse Phillies teams that could have used his arm.
Philadelphia traded Giles to the Astros prior to the 2016 season for Mark Appel, Harold Arauz, Thomas Eshelman, Brett Oberholtzer and Vince Velasquez. That trade has not turned out well for the Phillies with Velasquez being the only player still with the organization.
Appel, once considered the next transcendent pitching prospect, has retired after a couple of rough years in the minor leagues. Eshelman is now with the Orioles and Arauz is in the Cardinals system. Oberholtzer, a veteran pitcher, appeared in only 26 games for the Phillies and is no longer in baseball.
As for Giles, he’s had a rollercoaster career since leaving the Phillies. His first year with Houston was disastrous with a 4.11 ERA, but he came back the next year to save 34 games with a 2.30 ERA.
An on-field incident with his manager essentially ended Giles’ tenure with the Astros, who shipped him to Toronto for Roberto Osuna.
Since going to Toronto Giles has found himself, holding a 2.44 ERA and earning 38 saves. He’s re-established himself as one of the best closers in baseball and with the Blue Jays not expected to make a deep playoff run, Giles will likely be on the trade block once again.
Giles is earning $3.5 million with his adjusted salary this year and will be a free agent after the 2020 season. he could be a re-sign candidate for the Phillies even if they don’t acquire him at the trade deadline, but adding his big arm to the rotation this season could be a game-changer.
Keone Kela might be the Phillies best option at the trade deadline
For the last year or two, I’ve advocated for the Phillies trading for Keone Kela, the Pirates 27-year-old reliever.
Kela started this year on the injured list with an unspecified injury, which everyone has come to assume in these situations to be COVID-19 related.
Per MLB transactions, #Pirates last night placed RP Keone Kela on the 10-day injured list.
— RobBiertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) July 17, 2020
Kela has not participated in preseason camp. The team said it cannot disclose the reason for his absence.
Kela had some up and down seasons with the Rangers from 2015-18 before he was traded to Pittsburgh. Since then he’s put up All-Star caliber numbers with the Pirates, owning a 2.40 ERA in 48 games.
Last season he dealt with a shoulder injury, but was still able to make 32 appearances with a career best 2.12 ERA. He’s also a high strikeout guy averaging 11 K/9 in his career and less than a home run per nine innings.
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Kela is in the final year of his team control with a bad Pirates team, making him an easy trade candidate in 2020. He’s due to make less than $1.4 million this year with an adjusted salary, so it’ll be a low-cost contract for whichever team picks him up.
Kela’s availability, once he’s healthy, will determine what kind of return the Pirates can get for him, but if he comes back and performs the Phillies should at least give the Pirates a call about him.
Even if Kela isn’t 100% from a pitching standpoint, he might be better than what the Phillies have right now in their bullpen. Matt Klentak traded for Wilson Ramos when he was coming off an injury, so there’s some precedent there.
Could the Phillies steal Sean Doolittle away from the Nationals?
A lot of things would have to go wrong for the Washington Nationals for them to consider trading Sean Doolittle, who is in the final year of his contract.
Washington is already dealing with injuries, seeing Juan Soto receive a positive COVID-19 test and Stephen Strasburg deal with a nerve issue in his hand. If issues persist for the Nationals health-wise and they begin to slip in the standings, they could look to move a pitcher in the final year of his contract for valuable prospects.
Washington certainly doesn’t want the year after their championship season to be a wash, but trading Doolittle doesn’t mean the Nationals are going into a full rebuild.
Philadelphia Phillies
In 2016 the New York Yankees traded Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs and acquired Gleyber Torres, one of the top prospects in baseball. Chicago went on to win the World Series, but the Yankees re-signed Chapman the following offseason and landed one of the best young players in baseball in the process with Torres.
Washington could certainly go this route and seek a top prospect for one of the top closers in baseball in a deal that would only get you Doolittle for a month. Is a team going to give up a prospect the caliber of Torres for only a month? Maybe not, but the Nationals could pick up one or two pieces to add to an already talented roster.
Doolittle, who turns 34 in September, has a career 3.02 ERA with 111 career saves, most of which have come in the last three seasons with Washington. His best season, by far, was 2018 when he had a 1.60 ERA and 25 saves in an All-Star season.
Again, a lot would have to go wrong for the Nationals to trade Doolittle, especially in a season where three teams from the division could make the playoffs, but it’s a dream we can all hope for.