With the trade deadline rapidly approaching, the Phillies’ needs in the bullpen and outfield remain.
The addition of David Robertson as a free agent potentially solves part of a need. Dave Dombrowski sought to acquire two bullpen arms by the trade deadline, and given the team is paying him $6 million for the rest of the season (with an additional $6 million+ going to the luxury tax man), it’s unlikely the Phils will now trade for two relief pitchers in the next nine days.
For better or worse, Robertson
is the secondary bullpen addition. The 40-year-old right-hander had an outstanding season in Texas a year ago — 3.00 ERA, 99 Ks, 27 BBs in 72 innings — but has not pitched this year. He is healthy, and a number of teams were interested in signing him after a workout for multiple teams last week.
However, even with Robertson in the fold, Dombrowski will almost certainly swing a trade for a closer-type arm, preferably one under team control for multiple seasons. The need for a bat remains acute as well. An addition to one of the league’s worst outfields would be welcome, but if the Phillies are willing to get creative, an third or first baseman with power could be possible.
On the latest edition of Hittin’ Season, Justin Klugh of Baseball Prospectus and I conducted a two-man draft of who we would most like to see Dombrowski trade for at the deadline. We did not factor in the cost to acquire the players below, only seeking to rank them according to how well they would solve the issues that face the team presently.
Justin picked first and we alternated for 10 rounds (20 players total).
1) Jhoan Durán - Minnesota Twins (RP)
With the first pick in our draft, Justin selected the Twins electric right-hander, and it’s hard to argue with it. With a 2.3 WAR, a 1.62 ERA and 15 saves, Durán might be the very best reliever potentially available. The 27-year-old is under team control through 2027, so he’d be one of those relief options that would likely force the Phils to part with at least two top-100 prospects.
2) Mason Miller - Athletics (RP)
Miller was my first selection, and I’ll admit, I’m looking past the 4.00 ERA. If you remove three games in which he gave up 11 runs total, he has pitched 33 1/3 innings and allowed just five runs for a 1.35 ERA in his other 32 outings. He’s 26 and is under team control through 2029. He’s your closer for the next four-plus years.
3) Cade Smith - Cleveland Guardians (RP)
Justin chose Smith over Emmanuel Clase, opting for the younger pitcher with a longer future over the established closer star. Smith put up a 1.91 ERA in 75.1 innings last year, and seen a jump to a still very respectable 3.21 ERA in 42.0 innings. He’s increased his K/9 from 12.3 to 13.5, and seen his walk rate tick up as well, from 2.0 to 3.4. He’s been a set-up man in Cleveland but has the stuff to be a closer for a playoff team.
4) Eugenio Suarez - Arizona Diamondbacks (3B)
I took the first bat off the board, and if the Phillies didn’t have Alec Bohm around, it would be a no-brainer for Dombrowski to target this rental bat. There simply aren’t any power right-handed bats in the Majors anymore, so in that way, Suarez is a bit of a unicorn. He’s tied with Aaron Judge for second in the Majors in homers (36), something the Phils desperately need in their lineup. It would require a major on-field shuffling of positions, and perhaps for that reason, it doesn’t sound like the Phillies are interested.
Yankees, Mariners and Cubs are among teams to inquire on Eugenio Suarez, whose 36 HR leads the NL (and is tied with Judge, 2 behind Raleigh)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 22, 2025
5) Steven Kwan - Cleveland Guardians (OF)
Justin picked Kwan, a lefty, which isn’t ideal, but he is a phenomenal leadoff hitter. Adept at getting on base and playing outstanding defense in left, the AL All-Star has a 3.0 WAR this season, slashing .288/.352/.398. He doesn’t solve the Phillies’ power problem, but he would bring an injection of athleticism to an outfield in desperate need of some.
6) Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians (OF)
My next selection, Clase has been dominant over the last two months after a rough start, lowering his ERA to 2.86 in the process. He’s been very durable over the years, and although he’s not going to repeat his otherworldly 0.61 ERA from a season ago, his 21 saves and experience closing games makes him an ideal fit. It’s less than likely Cleveland will move him, as he’s under team control through 2026 at a very reasonable $26.4 million over the next three years.
7) Reid Detmers - Los Angeles Angels (RP)
Justin takes the only left-hander on this list in Detmers, was one of the worst relievers in baseball a year ago, worth -1.1 WAR with a 6.70 ERA. He’s been better this year, with a 4.17 ERA and 10.9 K/9. If the Phils need a lefty to replace Jose Alvarado, he could be a guy, but isn’t a closer and it’s likely Jesus Luzardo or Ranger Suarez will be pitching to left-handers a lot in October.
8) Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals (RP)
The Cardinals’ intentions at the deadline are unclear, as they’re still in the wild card mix. But if they’re being honest with themselves, they’d understand they’re nowhere near as good as the Cubs or Brewers in the Central, and have to battle superior teams in the Padres, Giants, Dodgers, Phillies and Mets for the other playoff spots. They need to get the best deal they can for Helsley, who is set to become a free agent. His 19 saves and 3.18 ERA would look awfully good in Phils’ pinstripes.
9) Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays (RP)
Fairbanks has a 100+ mph fastball and is one of the most underrated relievers in baseball. With a 2.92 ERA and 16 saves, Fairbanks would be a solid pickup, although he doesn’t have quite the same swing-and-miss as the other elite arms, with just 32 strikeouts in 37 innings. If he was the main addition, I think Phils’ fans would be a little disappointed.
10) Griffin Jax - Minnesota Twins (RP)
Last year, Jax put up a 2.03 ERA in 72 games, but this season is more in line with his 2022 and ‘23 campaigns, with a 3.83 ERA in 42.1 innings. His strikeouts have taken a giant leap this year, 14.2 K/9, with a tiny 2.1 BB/9. His 1.86 FIP indicates he’s pitched better than his ERA would indicate, and he could handle the 9th innings for the Phils if need be. He’s under team control for two more seasons after this one.
11) Taylor Ward - Los Angeles Angels (OF)
Ward put together a series much the same way Brent Rooker did when the A’s manhandled the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park right before the All Star Break a year ago. Ward mashed two home runs and three doubles, piling up eight RBIs over the weekend, and now fans are salivating at the right-handed hitting outfielder’s fit in Philadelphia. He’s pretty much an all-power guy this year, with 23 homers and a .492 slugging percentage, worth 1.8 WAR thus far, but he’s only hitting .233, with a .305 OBP. The 31-year-old does have power, plays the corner outfield, and is under team control through next season.
12) Jarren Duran - Boston Red Sox (OF)
Is he too low on this list? Yeah, he’s probably too low, but it’s likely because we subconsciously don’t believe he’ll actually be moved. Duran also isn’t as perfect a fit as some of the bats ahead of him because he’s left-handed, although that didn’t stop us from drafting Kwan really early. Duran hit a leadoff, opposite-field home run off Zack Wheeler to lead off Monday night’s game, so you can see power is there. It was just his 9th homer of the season, but he leads the league with 10 triples, led the AL in doubles and triples a year ago, and has a 2.5 WAR this season. He’s under control through 2028.
13) Bryan Reynolds - Pittsburgh Pirates (OF)
The only way you trade for the switch-hitting Reynolds is if you don’t have to give up any of Aiden Miller, Andrew Painter, Eduardo Tait or Aroon Escobar. That said, if Justin Crawford goes in a deal for Reynolds, I think you take the shot. Reynolds’ -0.8 WAR is hard to fathom, as is his .229/.288/.372 slash line. He was an All Star a season ago and has been one of the better outfielders in the National League since 2021. Has he lost interest playing for a loser franchise his entire career, or has he lost his skills? If it’s the former, it might be a terrific buy-low situation.
14) Felix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles (RP)
Bautista did not pitch at all in 2024, but this season, he’s right back to being an effective late-inning closer for a going nowhere Orioles team. With a 2.60 ERA in 35 games, he’s striking out 13.0 batters per nine and has 19 saves. Just don’t look at the walk ratio (6.0 BB/9). He’s under team control for two more seasons, as well.
15) Luis Robert Jr. - Chicago White Sox (OF)
Don’t look at the numbers. They’re awful. If you believe Robert, Jr. is simply done playing in Chicago and would welcome a change of scenery, and if the White Sox are simply looking to give him away, then the Phils should absolutely be interested and willing to listen.
16) Jo Adell - Los Angeles Angels (OF)
Adell was one of the most disappointing former top prospects in baseball since he burst onto the season during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He never had an OPS above .706 before this year, but in 2025, he’s started to turn into the power hitter that had been promised. He hit 20 home runs a season ago and has 21 this year, on pace for well over 30, with an .802 OPS and 1.0 WAR. He’s played a lot of center field and isn’t very good at it, but he’s been a slightly above average defender in the corners. He’s under team control through 2027, and it’s unlikely the Angels will move him.
17) Jesús Sánchez - Miami Marlins (OF)
Sánchez is a league-average hitter, but from the left side of the plate, and he doesn’t hit for much power. Over the last three years, he’s put up an OPS of .777, .731 and this year’s .734. Not sure this is a great fit.
18) David Bednar - Pittsburgh Pirates (RP)
Two years ago, we all wanted Bednar. After a rocky first month, Bednar has been lights out, lowering his ERA to 2.38, coming off a 5.77 ERA season last year. He has 14 saves, is striking out 12.2 K/9 and is walking just 2.4 per nine. He should be higher up on this list, frankly, signed through next year.
19) Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds (RP)
One of the older pitchers on this list, the 34-year-old is having another fine season in Cincinnati, with 21 saves and a 2.83 ERA, averaging 11.1 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9. He’s a rental and would be a fine pick-up, but perhaps not enough as the final piece of the bullpen puzzle.
20) Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals (RP)
The Phillies brought Robertson back, so why not last year’s closer? Estévez is having a fine season for the Royals, with a 2.74 ERA, a league-leading 26 saves and an All Star Game appearance. But he doesn’t bring the swing-and-miss that the Phillies are searching for from a 9th inning guy, with just 7.4 K/9. You just worry you’d see a repeat performance in October.
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