Just days ahead of the trade deadline, the Phillies dealt two pitching prospects — lefty Sam Aldegheri (ranked No. 24 in the system) and righty George Klassen (No. 29) — to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for closer Carlos Estevez. Many around the league felt the cost was steep for a reliever still relatively new to the closer role. But as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic pointed out, aggressive deals are typical for Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations.
“Dombrowski targets top-tier major leaguers. If that means parting with promising prospects, he doesn’t hesitate,” Rosenthal wrote.
“Every seller in America wants to deal with Dave,” added an anonymous rival executive.
Carlos Estevez Trade Included George Klassen, Angels’ ‘Most Pleasant Surprise’
Estevez delivered solid results for Philadelphia, logging a 2.57 ERA with six saves over 21 innings in 20 regular-season outings, along with three postseason appearances. But after the season, he left via free agency, signing with the Kansas City Royals. In 2025, he’s excelled with a 1.96 ERA and 14 saves in 16 chances.
Meanwhile, the players traded away have taken different paths. Aldegheri, now ranked fifth in the Angels’ system, has struggled in Double-A, recording a 4.81 ERA across eight starts, with a 1.56 WHIP.
Klassen, however, could become the real regret for Philadelphia.
In a May 21 article spotlighting each team’s biggest breakout prospect, MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo, Jim Callis, and Sam Dykstra praised Klassen — now the Angels’ No. 3 prospect — for his refined command. Last season, he impressed after arriving from the Phillies, finishing with a 3.10 ERA, 13.1 K/9, and a .195 opponents’ average. This year, he’s cut his walk rate to just 2.2 per nine innings, while maintaining high strikeout totals.
George Klassen Making Strong Case for Inclusion in Top-100 Prospects List
The 23-year-old is currently sidelined with a concussion after being struck by a line drive on May 11. But before the injury, Baseball America‘s Geoff Pontes noted Klassen was building a compelling case for Top 100 prospect consideration.
While his 4.97 ERA over seven starts doesn’t jump off the page, advanced metrics like a 3.08 FIP and 2.58 xFIP paint a better picture. He consistently throws 96-97 mph and can touch 99, with heavy armside run that makes his fastball tough to square up. His go-to secondary pitch is a hard gyro slider in the low 90s that generates whiffs nearly half the time, and he also features a mid-80s slurvy curveball, particularly effective against lefties.
It’s a high-upside arsenal paired with improving command — making Klassen one of the most exciting arms not yet on a national Top 100 list.
And for Phillies fans, watching that potential unfold elsewhere could be a tough pill to swallow.