The Phillies pulled off their big late-inning acquisition, acquiring Jhoan Duran from Minnesota for well-regarded prospects Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told the beat that the Phils will not make any other bullpen moves before tomorrow’s deadline (relayed by Matt Gelb of The Athletic and Todd Zolecki of MLB.com). They’re continuing to search for a bat, most likely in the outfield. Jon Heyman of The New York Post adds that they’re seeking a right-handed hitter in particular.
Dombrowski unsurprisingly declared that Duran will take over as Philly’s closer. They’d had a committee approach to the ninth inning in recent weeks. Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering have been their preferred options since Jordan Romano pitched his way out of the early-season closing role. Strahm and Kerkering fit better in setup roles. The Phils will also recall David Robertson within the next couple weeks to work in leverage spots.
Adding an elite arm at the back of the bullpen has been Philadelphia’s priority for weeks. With that accomplished, they can turn their attention to the bottom part of the lineup. Left field is the obvious area to address. The Max Kepler signing has been a bust. Nick Castellanos isn’t performing well in the opposite corner. Second baseman Bryson Stott has also been in a rut offensively, but that’s a more difficult position to address given the scarcity of plus hitters at that position. The Phillies should have more possibilities in the corner outfield, potentially with a goal of flipping Kepler elsewhere in a second trade.
The Phils have been tied to Luis Robert Jr., who at least hits left-handed pitching and has a higher ceiling than Kepler provides. They’ve been linked to Cleveland left fielder Steven Kwan, but that’d require surrendering multiple top prospects and seems less likely after the Phils parted with significant young talent for Duran. Ramón Laureano, Davis Schneider and Dane Myers are righty-hitting outfielders who could be available. If the Phillies don’t land a notable acquisition, they’d likely give a look to former first-round pick Justin Crawford. The 21-year-old is hitting .326/.409/.428 with 31 stolen bases in 82 Triple-A games.
Leaving a few for the rest of us is nice.
Love the Duran trade. Now time to add a bat. This offense needs an upgrade.
You are joining that party late my friend.
Not sure I want any of the bats being discussed unless they are very low cost…..but it seems they want real prospects. Bring up Crawford and Rojas can go to the bench. Keep running Kemp out there in a platoon.
Too bad we did not re-up Austin Hays. Rebounded this year….Seemed odd to hold last year against him when he was hospitalized with serious illness that almost killed him…so yeah he played bad coming back from that…
@FrontRow – Hays talked about this and admitted that the Phils were afraid of longer term issues with his health that would impact him this year as well. They had to make a quick decision, and needed to bank on production as a competitive team so they went in another direction. Hays understood the thought process as he was still in a weakened state at the time.
We can always play rearview mirror but in real time it is much more difficult. Hays is having a nice year (albeit he has missed about a third of the games thus far) and Kepler is having a bad one so we are disappointed.
Davis Schneider? He would instantly make the Phillies Moustache Hall of Fame!
I’m surprised to see Davis Schneider’s name as an available option.
He’s currently the only half decent right handed hitting outfield capable player the Blue Jays have. The only other options they have are Springer, who is basically a fulltime DH now, and Myles Straw, who, bless his heart, can’t hit to save his life (today notwithstanding)
I suppose he could become available if the Jays were to get a better righty outfielder between now and the deadline. Otherwise, I don’t see him being traded.
He’s a local guy too. He went to Eastern in Voorhees.
Big mistake. Strahm is not to be trusted against quality lineups, and Robertson and Luzardo are just projections at this point. The Phillies need at least one of the Coulombe tier, and two would have them really sitting pretty, especially if the cost is just depth prospects.
Perhaps they are just smoke screening it to get something done tomorrow.
Believe what DD does, not what he says.
Hard to believe they think Duran, though he’s really good, is all they need! Mets have traded for three solid BP pieces!
The Phillies have the best rotation in baseball and were missing only a shutdown closer. Not hard to believe.
So your starters are all going eight innings in the playoffs. Maybe you haven’t been paying attention, but that’s not how baseball works in 2025! Your outstanding rotation and weak bullpen just lost two off three to the White Sox.
Hard to argue your point about losing two out of three to the White Sox. That was terrible, but in the playoffs, you only need three, maybe four starters and with all the days off maybe four relievers. Do you know of a team that wants to face Zach Wheeler, Christopher Sanchez, and Aaron Nola in round one? Plus the bullpen of Duran, Orion, Strom, and banks every night?
The Aaron Nola with the 6.16 ERA and WHIP of 1.51 . . . . Coming off an injury?
You don’t need all of your starters to start in the postseason. One or two can pitch out of the bullpen.
I think it is hard to project what you’ll get from Nola for the rest of the year and in the postseason.
He has valuable talent and experience/grit but it may take till after the offseason for him to heal properly.
PHI has a very good chance and I know they will add an OF today
no, they’re missing a few late-inning arms.
That and David Robertson will join the bullpen in about 2 weeks. Alvarado will return sometime after August 20th. The Phillies as D D said, are done adding relievers.
Robertson and Alvarez will be with the team shortly.
With this addition, David Robertson, Alvarado (coming back for August) and Luzardo being talked about for the pen…who gets kicked out of the bullpen?
So many choices……..
They have a wheel with the names Romano, Ross, Lazar, Rangel, Johnson and Banks on it?
Banks will stay based on his record. Romano will stay based on his salary but may not make the playoff roster, though another BP aquisition could get him cut.
Time for Romano to go
For the rest of the season their bullpen seems solid. Adding Duran and Robertson along with Alvarado come the 18th. They still need a rh bat.
Sounds about right. They could’ve used another BP arm, but it is not a necessity.
I can’t see them paying the price for Kwan, and there is no one else that should make them give up any more of their remaining top prospects. If they can get a Laureano, Robert Jr., Bader etc. at a price that makes sense for who they are then do it but don’t reach for it.
I don’t know if the Phillies can go back to them for Bader tomorrow
Don’t see why not
I wouldn’t mind if the Cardinals traded Nootbaar. And maybe Arenado with Bohm and either Castellanos or Walker coming back to even out some of the money. Nootbaar wouldn’t be cheap i woupd have taken Abel for him 1 for 1 but hes no longer available.
Tauchmann was 3-5 tonight against said Phillies in a 9-3 White Sox win. White Sox 8-4 after the break.
I think they need one more reliever. Like a Maton or Dennis Santana. Robertson is a question mark but a possible good add. But he’s 40 so…
Maybe they are banking on Alvarado coming back but he’s not eligible for the playoffs and that’s what counts.
A bat? Yes, get even an outfielder better than Kepler. That’s obvious. I do like a Bader/Marsh platoon in left with maybe Crawford in center.
Or Willi Castro to play left. Taylor Ward is another left field option
Wonder if they would have intrest in Nolan gorman. Or nootbar(eventhough he’s a lefty). They could probably get nootbar and maton and gorman and not have to give up the farm
I could see either Nootbaar or Gorman being dealt. Not both but one of them sure.
Romano and Kepler for Bader and Buxton…get it done
Twins rudely decline
Those two for a Tastycake
Time to trade for Taylor Ward. Won’t cost them much in prospects and is night and day better than Max Kepler.
It’s the Angels so you might be able to get him for Kepler
After fleecing the Twins i wouldn’t be either
This is a great signing, and I think Robertson is going to be a reasonably solid addition to the middle of the bullpen to help get them to Duran.
I feel like the (hopefully) next move isn’t necessarily a power bat; while I certainly wouldn’t complain, I’ll take a somewhat-above-average bat if it comes in the form of a great defensive outfielder. IMO that’s a far greater need than more offense.
Going to the game Sunday night, hope to see one or both of them.
I’m on board with what the Phillies have done so far. They’ve been smart about things.
Signing Robertson — as opposed to trading prospects for your second BP arm acquisition at the deadline — really opened up how the Phillies can afford to position and sell their prospects.
For two-and-a-half years of control of Duran I don’t mind what the Phillies gave up.
I’m not about to claim I’m an expert on Mick Abel or know much about the catcher they gave up. But if the Phillies win a World Series at any time during this extended window of sorts with Duran, no one is going to complain.
Now I’m hoping they manage to land Robert Jr. at a reasonable asking price. I wouldn’t complain about Kwan, but Robert should cost less and be within the Phillies reach — unless the White Sox ask for so much that nobody bothers to acquire him.
Should be a fun day!
I’m looking forward to a change in the outfield. Max Kepler should be released either to call up Crawford, or to make room for a trade acquisition.