The Philadelphia Phillies have maintained a “win-now” mindset for several seasons.
They reached the World Series in 2022 but were defeated by the Houston Astros. Since then, the team advanced to the National League Championship Series in 2023 and the National League Division Series in 2024 but came up short of returning to the World Series.
While the Phillies boast a highly talented roster, their lineup is starting to show signs of aging.
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Offensively, Philadelphia still features plenty of firepower, with stars like Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos, Alec Bohm, and Bryson Stott.
Their starting rotation is equally formidable, led by potential Cy Young contender Zack Wheeler. The pitching staff could receive a midseason boost if top prospect Andrew Painter is promoted in July as expected.
However, as the trade deadline nears, one major flaw stands out: the bullpen. Anyone following the team this season can see the need for improvement there.
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According to The Athletic (subscription required), the Phillies rank highest in trade urgency for relief pitching among all MLB teams — highlighting an area plagued by inconsistency and offseason missteps.
Philadelphia let reliable arms like Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez leave in free agency. They gambled on former All-Star Jordan Romano, who had struggled with the Blue Jays. The hope was that Romano and Jose Alvarado would anchor the late innings.
So far, Romano has saved eight of ten chances but sports a troubling 7.40 ERA across 27 appearances, with an 0-3 record and nearly as many earned runs as hits allowed. Alvarado, while perfect in save situations, will miss the postseason due to an 80-game PED suspension.
The Phillies still have dependable relievers in Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering, but they likely need a new closer or someone to share the role.
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As a result, the Phillies have been linked to several potential trade targets at closer. One standout is Kyle Finnegan of the Washington Nationals, who is having a stellar season and will be a free agent after this year. With a reputation for aggressive midseason moves, the Phillies could look to Finnegan to fill the gap in their bullpen.
