The Philadelphia Phillies are willing to deal higher-level prospects to make a big move, according to a report from Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Gelb wrote that, for the time being, the Phillies would trade a higher-level prospect or a major leaguer to upgrade their bullpen. Additionally, Gelb wrote that the Phillies are interested in acquiring players under team control beyond the 2025 season. In this report, Gelb confirmed a previous report that the Phillies have shown interest in acquiring Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher David Bednar to help the bullpen. It is worth noting that Bednar is under team control through the 2026 season.
Phillies Willing To Make Big Move
Potential Trade Partner – Cleveland Guardians
One player Gelb mentioned the Phillies are interested in is Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase. This season, Clase has a 4-2 record with a 3.12 ERA and 19 saves in 41 games. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan also mentioned Clase in connection with the Phillies. Clase has a 1.29 WHIP and a 4.00 K/BB rate this season. Additionally, Clase has a career-best 0.22 HR/9 allowed rate and a career-best 2.8% HR/FB allowed rate. Clase is under team control through the 2026 season with team options for 2027 and 2028. The main question is whether the Guardians would be willing to trade Clase at this time.
Furthermore, Passan floated the idea that the Phillies could try to trade for Clase and outfielder Steven Kwan in a package deal with the Guardians. Kwan has a .292/.350/.408 line with six home runs and 29 RBI in 88 games. To add, Kwan has a 114 wRC+ and a .305 BABIP this season. Kwan has a 0.91 BB/K rate and a 5.5% HR/FB rate. Like Clase, Kwan is under team control beyond the 2025 season. Kwan is under team control through the 2027 season. While Kwan is not a power hitter, he gets on base and is one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball. The cost would be high, but the extended team control makes the price more reasonable when put into perspective.
Potential Trade Partner – Minnesota Twins
Gelb and Passan both mentioned Twins relief pitcher Jhoan Durán as a trade candidate for the Phillies. Durán has a 5-3 record with a 1.52 ERA and 14 saves in 42 outings this season. Additionally, Durán has a 1.09 WHIP along with a 2.81 K/BB rate this year. While Durán has a career-worst strikeout rate and a career-worst walk rate, he has not allowed a home run this season. Continuing the trend, Durán is under team control through the 2027 season. Gelb also mentioned Twins relief pitcher Griffin Jax as someone the Phillies are eyeing. Jax is under team control through the 2027 season. To add, Jax has a 1-4 record with a 4.12 ERA in 42 outings this season.
There has been speculation that if the Twins are sold, the Phillies could attempt to trade for outfielder Byron Buxton. Because of salary considerations, this is a spot where Nick Castellanos getting moved is a possibility. Gelb wrote that the Phillies could move players currently in their major league outfield. A package deal involving Buxton and one of Durán or Jax going to the Phillies seems possible. Buxton has a .270/.388/.544 line with 20 home runs and 53 RBI in 75 games. To add, Buxton has a 140 wRC+ and a .310 BABIP this season. Buxton has a 0.32 BB/K rate along with a 21.5% HR/FB rate. As with the other names, Buxton is under contract through the 2028 season.
Players Who Could Be On The Move
One scenario Gelb discusses is the Phillies moving on from Max Kepler or Brandon Marsh to make room for top outfield prospect Justin Crawford. According to Gelb, the Phillies front office thinks highly of Crawford and would like to see him on their major league roster relatively soon. Kepler is a free agent after this season. Meanwhile, Marsh is under team control through the 2027 season. Based on what Gelb has reported across multiple articles, do not expect Crawford to be included in a trade at the deadline. In addition, Gelb did note that the Phillies still view top pitching prospect Andrew Painter as untouchable.
The Phillies have some tradeable mid-level prospects, as Gelb mentions. Two of them, pitcher Alex McFarlane and outfielder Hendry Mendez have been mentioned in a previous article here as well. As Gelb mentions, these players would not be the centerpiece of a big trade, but rather secondary pieces to get a deal across the finish line. Another prospect that Gelb mentions could be moved is pitcher Jean Cabrera. Last offseason, the club added Cabrera to the 40-man roster to keep him from being available in the Rule 5 Draft. As a result, Cabrera has two minor league option years remaining after the 2025 season, which serves as the first of the three option years.
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