Ranking 5 potential Phillies bullpen trade deadline targets
Here's how likely we think it is that the Phillies will land some rumored bullpen trade deadline targets.
With the July 30 MLB trade deadline fast approaching, the Philadelphia Phillies remain a team that most MLB insiders expect to be very active in the developing trade market over the next three weeks. While the Phillies' pursuit of outfield help continues to generate headlines with names like Luis Robert Jr., Cody Bellinger and Brent Rooker all floating around, it's become an overlooked fact that the Phillies have also been attached to some intriguing names in what's become a robust market of available closers.
Do the Phillies have to make a move for a traditional closer over the next few weeks? That's a question that's likely to garner a wide range of differing reactions and opinions from Phillies fans and baseball insiders alike. There seem to be two schools of thought regarding the Phillies' possible pursuit of a closer.
On one hand, the Phillies' unconventional method of relying on Jeff Hoffman and José Alvarado in different situations hasn't exactly been a disaster. Recently named to his first All-Star team, Jeff Hoffman is 9-for-12 in save opportunities, and Alvarado is 13-for-15. With the tandem currently 22-for-27 in save chances, an argument can be made that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
If the recent past has any influence over Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies front office decision-making, Craig Kimbrel's meltdown in key spots in the 2023 NLCS should be a stark reminder of what can happen when you become complacent with who you have closing out important ballgames in October.
Ranking 5 potential Phillies bullpen trade deadline targets
Will the Phillies swing a deal for a closer before the trade deadline? That's open to speculation. But at least we know they're looking for bullpen depth (subscription required), according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
With plenty of reporting from MLB insiders connecting the Phillies to some big names rumored to be available, we'll rank five of the closers the Phillies are reported to have some interest in by how likely a deal is to happen.
No. 5: Mason Miller, Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller is by far one of the most intriguing names floated as a trade possibility this season. Recently named to his first All-Star team, the 25-year-old flamethrower has been one of the lone bright spots on a terrible Athletics team with no chance of making a playoff run.
Miller made his MLB debut last season for the A's, and in 10 appearances (six starts), he went 0-3 with a 3.78 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings pitched. Entering this season in the Athletics bullpen, the right-hander has emerged as one of the top closers in the game. Using his filthy stuff, he has secured 15 saves in 17 save opportunities while recording an ERA of 2.33 and 68 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings.
Plenty of MLB teams are going to inquire about Miller, but it's not known if the A's are currently listening to offers on the talented youngster. Either way, the cost of acquiring Miller will likely be steep as he won't be a free agent until after the 2030 season. The Phillies have the prospects to get a deal done, but they probably say no to a Miller deal.
No. 4: Kyle Finnegan, Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan has been a name that a handful of MLB insiders speculate could be moved at the trade deadline. With the Nationals currently 42-51 and 18.5 games out of first place, the Nats will likely be selling off veteran players in the next couple of weeks as they continue into the next phase of a multi-year rebuild process.
Making trades within the division is not very common, but not entirely out of the realm of possibility either. If the Phillies do have interest in Finnegan, it's been reported that teams like the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees are already known to have some interest in trading for the 32-year-old closer.
Finnegan has impressed in the ninth for the Nationals this season, recording 23 saves in 27 opportunities. The right-hander has 73 saves in 94 career chances and isn't a free agent until after the 2026 season. Those two years of team control will certainly add to the cost of acquiring Finnegan, but he should command a healthy market if made available.
The Phillies would likely have to part with at least two top prospects to make a deal happen. It remains unclear if Finnegan is a player who's even on the Phillies' radar, but Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer suggested Finnegan as a potential target to watch (subscription required) as they reportedly scour the market for bullpen help. We'll call the Phillies' chances of trading for Finnegan as possible, but highly unlikely.
No. 3: Michael Kopech, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox closer Michael Kopech is a name that the Phillies have already been attached to in trade rumors dating back to the middle of June. The former starting pitcher made the transition to full-time closer duties at the beginning of the season, and the results so far have been a mixed bag.
The former top prospect has a lively fastball that can exceed 100 mph, and after a failed stint as a starting pitcher, the White Sox decided to see if his high velocity would play well closing out ball games. Kopech has recorded nine saves in 14 chances, but his 5.18 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 23 walks in 40 innings don't inspire a lot of confidence in late-game situations. With 55 strikeouts in those frames, teams may be intrigued by the right-hander's 12.38 K/9.
It's possible the Phillies could trade for Kopech, but it's more likely they would use him as a late-innings power arm ahead of Hoffman and Alvarado. The 28-year-old carries one more season of team control and won't be a free agent until 2026. This is a trade that is easy to see the Phillies making to add to the bullpen depth, and it would likely require at least one top prospect to get a deal done.
No. 2: Carlos Estévez, Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are definitely going to be trade deadline sellers in the next few weeks as they currently have an uninspiring 37-54 record and are navigating another lost season due largely to superstar Mike Trout spending considerable time on the IL.
The Angels will have some intriguing trade pieces for sale, and one of those, according to Robert Murray of Fansided, is right-handed closer Carlos Estévez. The June AL Reliever of the Month is having another stellar season as the primary closer for the Angels. Heading into Wednesday's game he has converted 16 of his 19 save opportunities when called upon in the ninth inning. He sports a 2.89 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 28 innings while only allowing four walks.
The Phillies and Angels have a history of making trades together at the deadline, with Brandon Marsh for Logan O'Hoppe being one of the most recent examples. Estévez will be a free agent at the end of this season, so a package sending one top 10 prospect to the Angels could probably get a deal done. Estévez's market is sure to expand quite a bit over the next few weeks. Trading for Estévez seems very possible for the Phillies.
No. 1: Tanner Scott, Miami Marlins
Marlins closer Tanner Scott is another player who will be moved before the trade deadline on July 30. The Phillies have already been reported to have some interest in the 29-year-old left-hander. The only question that remains is if both teams would be willing to swing a deal as rivals in the NL East.
Scott has done an excellent job of closing games since transitioning to ninth-inning duty for the Marlins in 2022. The injury-plagued Marlins currently have a record of 32-60, which signals that the team is likely to trade Scott and outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. for a package of prospects in the next few weeks. Scott is 13 for 15 in save chances this season, with a 1.42 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 38 innings pitched.
The market for Scott is sure to be competitive. The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported that the Orioles, Yankees, Dodgers and Phillies are all said to have interest in trading for the All-Star closer. The Phillies will have to part with some young talent if they want to get a deal done with the Marlins, but there's little doubt that acquiring Scott would make the Phillies bullpen a true force down the stretch this season. This is another deal that is possible if the Phillies meet the Marlins' asking price.
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