The Philadelphia Phillies currently boast the best record in the National League, thanks to stellar starting pitching and clutch hitting. However, since Jose Alvarado’s 80-game suspension last week, a glaring issue has emerged: the bullpen. It’s clear that if the Phillies want to maintain their dominance, they must act quickly to reinforce their relief corps and ease the burden on Matt Strahm and Jordan Romano.
Carlos Hernandez, Jose Ruiz, and Orion Kerkering have struggled and appear ill-equipped to contribute to a bullpen with championship ambitions. Rather than waiting for the trade market to fully develop, the Phillies should act now and move aggressively to add reliable arms.
Though the Phillies don’t have a particularly deep farm system, they do have an intriguing trade chip in Johan Rojas, a starting-caliber center fielder. Rojas brings elite speed and gold-glove caliber defense, but his offensive production has fallen short of expectations. With Brandon Marsh thriving since returning from the injured list, Rojas finds himself as the odd man out.
Trade Targets:
Kyle Finnegan (Nationals Closer):
Finnegan has been outstanding this season, ranking second in the NL with 15 saves and posting a 2.41 ERA. He’s currently on the injured list with shoulder fatigue, but tests showed no structural damage, and he’s expected back soon.
A straight-up swap of Rojas for Finnegan might be a steep price, but if the Phillies could also acquire pitching prospect Cole Henry in the deal, it would significantly bolster their bullpen and strengthen their postseason outlook.
Mason Miller (Athletics Closer):
This would be the headline-grabbing move. Mason Miller, known for his 102 mph fastball and devastating slider, has been a dream target for Phillies fans for over a month. He’s a true game-changer in the 9th inning.
However, Rojas alone won’t be enough to land Miller. The Phillies would likely need to include top outfield prospect Justin Crawford and another solid prospect to even get the Athletics’ attention. Despite the steep cost, adding Miller would be a slam-dunk move. Pairing him with Romano would give the Phillies the kind of elite late-inning combo they’ve sorely lacked in recent postseasons.
While Rojas’s defense will be missed, he isn’t likely to be the difference-maker the Phillies need come October. Recent playoff runs have made it clear: dominant bullpens are essential for deep postseason success. The Phillies are legitimate contenders—if they can shore up their bullpen now, they’ll be well-positioned to avoid another early playoff exit.