The Philadelphia Phillies have sole possession of first place in the NL East after a huge series win over the New York Mets. With that, the Phillies own the third-best record in Major League Baseball, even with key players like Bryce Harper, Aaron Nola and José Alvarado missing.
Like most teams in playoff position trying to improve their championship odds, the Phillies will be active in the trade market as the July 31 trade deadline approaches. The team’s two biggest weaknesses this season have been inconsistency in the outfield and the bullpen.
These 3 relievers could surprisingly wind up moving at the trade deadline and be targets for the Phillies
Teams could always use bullpen help as the second half of the season gets underway and the playoff push intensifies. The Phillies will be heavily involved, but they’ll have competition with the other contenders.
MLB.com’s Thomas Harrigan listed 10 trade candidates from teams on the playoff bubble, which included three relievers who could improve the Phillies’ bullpen.
Steven Matz, STL
Steven Matz started his career in 2015 as a starter for the Mets. After six seasons, the left-hander was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021 and had a career year, posting a 3.82 ERA with a career-high 14 wins.
Matz signed with the St. Louis Cardinals before the 2022 season and was used as a swingman throughout his first three years with the team. The 34-year-old has primarily been used out of the bullpen in 2025, appearing in 22 games with just two starts.
Matz owns a 3.78 ERA with three holds and one save in 33 1/3 innings as a reliever this season. The veteran primarily works in the sixth and seventh innings for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals are 4.5 games out of first place in the NL Central and one game out of a Wild Card spot. If they fall out of the playoff picture as the deadline nears, the Cardinals could look to trade Matz, who’s in the final year of a four-year, $44 million contract.
Steven Matz, Dirty 82mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/w25ZD3VoKM
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 16, 2025
Emmanuel Clase, CLE
After a first-place finish in the AL Central and an ALCS appearance, the Cleveland Guardians haven’t had quite the same success in 2025.
Entering Monday, the Guardians are 39-37 and sit 8.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers in their division. Despite owning an AL Wild Card spot, the Guardians are 17-26 against teams with a .500 record or better, and they own a -23 run differential.
If the Guardians decide to sell at the deadline, they have an enticing asset in closer Emmanuel Clase. The right-hander is a three-time All-Star and has led the AL in saves in the previous three seasons, including a major league-leading 42 saves in 2022 and 44 saves in 2023.
Clase is a dominant, hard-throwing closer who can reach triple digits. Although his 3.48 ERA in 2025 is a career-high, the 27-year-old’s 18 saves are tied for the fourth-most in the majors.
Clase is set to make $6.4 million in 2026 and has two $10 million club options in the following two years. His success, age and club control make him an intriguing option for reliever-needy teams like the Phillies, but it likely won’t come cheap to pry Clase away from the Guardians.
Emmanuel Clase's 2Ks in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/umYDdQFts0
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 1, 2025
Jhoan Duran, MIN
Like the Guardians in the AL Central, the Minnesota Twins are on the playoff bubble. The Twins sit 11 games back of the Tigers and 2.5 games out of an AL Wild Card spot.
After losing nine of the last 10 games, including three straight losses, the Twins could be in a position to be sellers as the trade deadline nears. Like the Guardians, the Twins feature a dominant closer who should draw plenty of interest from reliever-needy teams.
Jhoan Duran has recorded 68 saves throughout his first four seasons in the majors and is enjoying a career year in 2025. The right-hander owns a career-low 1.57 ERA and has 10 saves in 12 opportunities.
Duran is an overpowering reliever who can reach triple digits and throws a nasty knuckle curve to keep hitters off balance. The 27-year-old has recorded 39 strikeouts this season and has yet to allow a home run in 34 1/3 innings.
Jhoan Duran, 88mph Curveball, 98mph Splinker and 102mph Fastball. 😳 pic.twitter.com/lQyICqvMAk
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 16, 2025
Like Clase, Duran comes with club control, and he won’t be a free agent until 2028. He may not garner as much trade value as Clase, but Duran will require a hefty package if the Twins decide to trade their closer.