The Philadelphia Phillies finally gave fans what they’ve been asking for. At the trade deadline, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski pulled off a big move, acquiring elite reliever to serve as the team’s full-time closer.
Top star wasted no time making an impression, recording two saves in the series victory over the Detroit Tigers. His debut save took just four pitches, and he capped the game with a 103 mph heater. It’s hard to imagine a better start to his Phillies career.
This acquisition marks a significant shift for a team that, under manager Rob Thomson, has mostly relied on a closer-by-committee approach. Landing one of the top arms on the market not only solidifies the ninth inning but also allows the rest of the bullpen to settle into roles that better suit their strengths. Duran, sporting a 1.94 ERA this season, is the clear choice to close games.
Now that each reliever has a defined spot, the question becomes — how does the Phillies’ bullpen stack up for the remainder of the year?
Updated Phillies bullpen depth chart with the addition of Jhoan Duran
| Role | Player |
|---|---|
| Closer | Jhoan Duran RHP |
| Setup | Matt Strahm LHP |
| Setup | Orion Kerkering RHP |
| Middle Relief | Tanner Banks LHP |
| Middle Relief | Max Lazar RHP |
| Middle Relief | Jordan Romano RHP |
| Long Man | Alan Rangel RHP |
| Long Man | Joe Ross RHP |
Following the trade deadline, the Phillies’ bullpen roles have become more defined. Manager Rob Thomson has confirmed that Jhoan Duran will serve as the closer. Orion Kerkering, who owns a sub-3.00 ERA, has been a key contributor this year, stepping up in the absence of José Alvarado and during Jordan Romano’s struggles.
The postseason picture could shift as the roster changes. Veteran reliever David Robertson is expected to be called up from Triple-A soon and could be trusted in high-leverage situations. Additionally, Aaron Nola’s return from injury — after two rehab starts — will move Taijuan Walker into a relief role.
From the left side, Matt Strahm has had an inconsistent season, and the Phillies will be hoping for more stability from him heading into October. Tanner Banks, meanwhile, has shown marked improvement since being acquired a year ago.
These defined roles have helped the bullpen thrive. Since adding Duran, the unit has posted a 2.45 ERA and held opponents to a league-best .125 batting average. While the closer role is now firmly in place, the real question is how the Phillies will juggle their relief corps once more arms return, especially with Alvarado set to help in the stretch run but unavailable for the postseason.