The July 31 trade deadline is almost here, and the Philadelphia Phillies are in the thick of trade rumors. Whether it’s upgrading the lineup, particularly with an outfield bat, or fixing an abysmal bullpen, the Phillies have their work cut out for them in the next few days.
The Phillies’ No. 1 priority at the deadline should be improving the bullpen. The team has already signed 40-year-old right-hander David Robertson for the rest of the season, who will report to Triple-A for a ramp-up period, but that shouldn’t be the only addition they make.
Entering Monday’s series opener against the Boston Red Sox, the Phillies’ 4.33 bullpen ERA was the eighth-worst in Major League Baseball. The unit has been far too inconsistent and untrustworthy for a team trying to win a World Series championship.
Ken Rosenthal says Phillies have the best shot to wrestle Mason Miller away from Athletics
The Athletics feature one of baseball’s top closers and most prized possessions, Mason Miller. After 10 appearances, including six starts in 2023, Miller made a name for himself during his rookie season in 2024.
Miller owned a 2.49 ERA with 28 saves and 104 strikeouts in 65 innings a season ago. The right-hander also earned an All-Star selection.
The A’s were a bottom-five team in 2024 and find themselves there again this year. Despite clearly being out of the playoff picture and significant trade interest in Miller, the A’s are reluctant to part with the soon-to-be 27-year-old, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
Although the A’s plan is to keep Miller past the trade deadline, that could change if a team comes calling with the right price. The Athletic’s and MLB insider Ken Rosenthal believes the Phillies would “probably be No. 1 on the list” to tempt the A’s to trade Miller (subscription required).
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is no stranger to negotiating big deals. He isn’t afraid to pull the trigger if it makes sense for the team and gives them the best shot at winning a championship.
Miller is making $765,000 and is under club control for four more years through arbitration. Any trade involving the hard-throwing reliever won’t come cheap.
Miller owns a 4.04 ERA thanks in large part to allowing five earned runs in 2/3 innings on May 3, but he has 19 saves and 57 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings. He has elite stuff in his pitch arsenal, including a fastball that can reach over triple digits.
The Phillies are in the market for a shutdown late-inning reliever. Miller could solve their bullpen issues, not only in 2025, but for the foreseeable future.