Six relievers Phillies could acquire by trade deadline

Keone Kela, Pittsburgh Pirates

Right-handed reliever Keone Kela was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 12th round of the 2012 amateur draft out of Everett Community College (Everett, Washington). Debuting in April 2015 with the Rangers, Kela would soon be teammates with 2008 Phillies World Series Most Valuable Player Cole Hamels upon the July 2015 blockbuster trade.

Spanning 68 relief appearances (11 of which finished a game) for the Rangers in 2015, Kela posted a 7-5 record, 2.39 ERA, and 1.160 WHIP, while striking out 68 batters across 60 1/3 frames.

The Los Angeles, California, native, overall, would post a 19-10 record, 3.45 ERA, 208-66 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.143 WHIP as a Ranger spanning 180 appearances through the July 2018 trade deadline. Then, the Rangers dealt the right-hander to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Kela finished 2018 by posting a 2.93 ERA in 16 appearances with the Pirates. His 24 saves that season ranked as the 10th-most in the American League. In 2019, he recorded a 2.12 ERA in 32 appearances.

The 2020 season for Kela has featured just one appearance so far due to him being placed and recently activated from the COVID-19 injured list. The right-hander missed the first three weeks of the shortened 60-game season after being diagnosed with the virus before summer camp began. He has returned to health since, and made his debut on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds, allowing a solo home run Tucker Barnhart.

Kela is signed through the 2020 season on a one-year, $3.725 million pact.