The bullpen is far from a weakness for the Phillies.
The unit ranks first in the league in FanGraphs WAR, second in K/9, third in BB/9 and fifth in ERA. The back four of José Alvarado, Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering are as good as it gets. All four of them are worthy of throwing the final pitch for a championship-winning club.
The group behind them runs even deeper. Seranthony DomÃnguez and Gregory Soto have rebounded from tough stretches and will pitch in important spots in October if they maintain their form. José Ruiz, despite giving up a three-run home run in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s game, has been a solid find on a minor league signing. Yunior Marte has missed time this year due to injuries, but has filthy stuff.
Since the Phillies have middle relief depth, any trade for a reliever, barring an injury, would only makes sense if the acquired player is an upgrade over anyone outside of the Phillies’ top four.
The Phillies, who hold a nine-game lead over the Atlanta Braves, could also prioritize October matchups at the deadline. The final two playoff spots in the NL are up for grabs, but the Braves, Dodgers and Brewers look like locks to make it to the tournament. Whether it’s another lefty to face Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman or a righty to put in against Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley, the Phillies could benefit from looking ahead and trying to vary their looks late in a game during the postseason. They have the resources to identify these type of players. Acquiring them is a different challenge.
The club, from the starters in the rotation to the manager, have talked all season about the importance of eating innings now to keep the bullpen fresh in October. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Phillies double down on this belief and load up on bullpen help in pursuit of the franchise’s first World Series win since 2008.
Hoffman is also the Phillies’ biggest impending free agent. A move for a right-handed reliever controllable beyond 2024 at the deadline could be a good backup plan if Hoffman signs with another team.
With all that in mind, here are five back end names the Phillies could look into if they decide to go down this path.
Jason Adam, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays are in a weird spot. They are at .500, four games out of a playoff spot and just traded starter Aaron Civale to the Brewers to create a rotation spot for Shane Baz. They went all-in last year by trading Top 100 prospect Kyle Manzardo to the Guardians for Civale, but that didn’t work out. If the Rays use the deadline to reload, they could deal Adam.
The 32-year-old right-handed setup man has pitched to a 2.15 ERA since signing with the Rays in 2022. His consistency and contract status — being under team control through 2026 — should make him an appealing target throughout the league.
Carlos Estévez, RHP, Los Angeles Angels
Estévez, 31, the AL Reliever of the Month for June, has turned his season around. Since May 28, the Angels right-hander has allowed only two hits with no walks and ten strikeouts over 11 scoreless outings. He began the year with a 6.23 ERA in April. In an interview with The Athletic’s Sam Blum, Estévez credited a mechanical adjustment that “makes his fastball and slider have more consistent release points” as the reason behind his resurgence along with a better feel for his off-speed pitches. He is a free agent at the end of this season and is a lock to be traded.
Tanner Scott, LHP, Miami Marlins
Scott, 29, has a good chance of being the best reliever traded at the deadline. He has a 1.50 ERA, 12 saves and is on an eight-game scoreless streak for the Marlins. The Phillies have reportedly expressed interest in the lefty. They don’t necessarily need another left-handed pitcher in the bullpen, with Alvarado, Strahm and a better version of Soto already in place, but he’s a guy the Phillies would love to have face Olson, Freeman and Ohtani in the postseason. Scott is a free agent after this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesPaul Sewald, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are two games below .500 and 2.5 games back of the last spot in the NL wild card race. It’s unlikely they sell, given that they just got Zac Gallen back from the IL and Merrill Kelly should be back in August. But if the reigning NL champs decide to trade some expiring contracts, the Phillies should make a call on Paul Sewald. The 34-year-old righty missed time this season with an oblique injury, but has a 1.56 ERA and 11 saves in 19 appearances. He has been a fan favorite everywhere he has gone, except in New York where he stunk earlier in his career.
Jason Foley, RHP, Detroit Tigers
The Phillies could go back to the Detroit well and trade for another Tigers player. A high 90s sinker, slider combo guy, Foley has a 2.76 ERA in 32 appearances. The Tigers are eight games under .500 and eight games back of a wild card spot and look like sellers. The 28-year-old is under team control through 2027, so he will come at a steep price. The Phillies have acquired Soto, Kody Clemens and Michael Lorenzen in trades with Detroit all within the last two years. The club also signed former Tiger Spencer Turnbull to a deal that has proven to one of the smartest signings of the offseason. Former Tigers assistant GM and current Phillies special assignment scout David Chadd had a big hand in all three transactions, so don’t rule out another significant move with Chadd being a key figure.
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