Phillies trade rumor: Team acquires Workman, Hembree from Red Sox

The latest Phillies trade rumor confirms a big deal to help the bullpen

After hours of speculation, the newest Phillies trade rumor is official.

The Phillies have acquired relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree from the Boston Red Sox for former starter Nick Pivetta and prospect Connor Seabold.

Jon Heyman first reported that the deal was complete, and both Ken Rosenthal and Jim Salisbury were on top of the deal all day.

Ken Rosenthal adds that the Phillies are receiving approximately $815,000 in cash from Boston to cover almost all of Workman and Hembree’s contracts this year, which are worth about $1.1 million with the adjusted salaries.

The Phillies made the deal official on Twitter Friday evening.

Pivetta was acquired from the Washington Nationals in the Jonathan Papelbon deal and thought to have a high ceiling as a starter. He’s failed to live up to expectations thus far and could work his way into the Red Sox rotation.

The 27-year-old has a 5.50 ERA in 92 games for the Phillies and in three relief appearances this year his ERA went up to 15.50.

Seabold is ranked as the Phillies 23rd best prospect by MLBPipeline, drafted 83rd overall in 2017.

Earlier this week we speculated that the Phillies could raid the Red Sox bullpen, specifically noting Hembree.

In his first 10 outings this year Hembree had a 1.86 ERA with 10 strikeouts, but after giving up four runs to the Phillies earlier this week his ERA ballooned to 5.59.

Hembree has been a staple in the Red Sox bullpen since 2014 and has spent almost his entire professional career there. He has another year of arbitration after the 2020 season, giving the Phillies some depth going into 2021.

Workman has been the Red Sox closer for the last two years, getting 16 saves last year and four this year as a 31-year-old. This year he has a 4.05 ERA in seven games with eight strikeouts and four walks.

Workman is in the final year of his team control making less than $1.3 million this year with an adjusted salary.

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Philadelphia’s bullpen has been desperate for an upgrade with a league-worst 8.06 ERA. They’ve shifted players between the rotation, bullpen, and minor league camp all season trying to find an answer. Half of their 12 losses have been credited to a reliever.

Their bullpen took an even bigger hit when their best reliever Jose Alvarez took a ball to the groin and was placed on the injured list.

Friday’s deal was the second bullpen upgrade made by the team after they acquired David Hale from the Yankees for Addison Russ.

The deal signals a clear sign that the team is trying to win this year with J.T. Realmuto on the final year of his deal and general manager Matt Klentak on the clock.