The Philadelphia Phillies are not wasting any time getting deals done with three days to go until the July 30 MLB trade deadline. Just a day removed from trading reliever Seranthony Domínguez and outfielder Cristian Pache to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for outfielder Austin Hays, the Phillies have stuck again, acquiring All-Star closer Carlos Estévez from the Los Angeles Angels for a pair of top pitching prospects.
The Phillies have acquired RHP Carlos Estévez from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for minor league pitchers Sam Aldegheri and George Klassen.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 27, 2024
The move for Estévez is a major one, as the team has acquired one of the elite closers in baseball at a very significant cost. Estévez has had a tremendous season for the Angels, with a record of 1-3 with 20 saves and 2.38 ERA, in addition to 32 strikeouts and a 0.735 WHIP in 34.0 innings pitched on the season. A 2023 All-Star selection, the flame throwing 31-year-old closer has saved 51 games in two seasons with the Angels. Estévez was one of a handful of closers linked to the Phillies this month.
A free-agent at the end of the season, Estévez represents a win now approach from a Phillies team that has failed to deliver in two consecutive postseasons. In making today's deal, the Phillies have parted ways with two top 10 pitching prospects to add a lock down closer into the equation.
Phillies trade a pair of pitching prospects in a win-now move
The Phillies had to give up something in order to get something. By trading for one of the best closers in MLB right now, the Phillies were forced to deal No. 5 prospect George Klassen, and No. 7 prospect Sam Aldegheri, per Baseball America’s rankings (subscription required) to the Angels to get a deal done. With Estévez clearly a rental, this is a deal with a whole lot of risk considering the caliber of prospects being exchanged.
Klassen, 22, is in the midst of a breakout first season of professional baseball. Across two levels of play, the Phillies sixth pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has a record of 3-2 with a 1.97 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings.
Aldegheri, 22, was 6-7 with a 3.23 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched. The Italian-born lefty emerged as one of the best pitching prospects in the Phillies farm system this season. Recently promoted to Double-A Reading, Aldegheri gives the Angels another young pitcher who should be knocking on the door for an MLB call up sometime next season.
Adding a closer became a glaring need recently with key arms like José Alvarado and Seranthony Domínguez not getting it done in key spots. In trading for Estévez, the Phillies front office has shown its commitment to not messing around and making small deals during the trade deadline. How well will this deal age? It won't hurt so much if the Phillies are hoisting a World Series trophy at the end of October.