Phillies Trade Rumors: 5 Relievers They’re Looking at to Shore Up the Bullpen

The Phillies have been absolutely fantastic this season, and if having the best record in the majors at 57-34 doesn’t show how good they’ve been this season, let’s look at what has: their starting pitching.

While the Phillies’ offensive numbers have been lower than expected at the start of the season, the pitching rotation has been nothing but exceptional. Their 2.93 team-ERA is the best in the majors, as is their BB/9 rate (1.82), their starters’ combined WAR (15.4), and their FIP (2.87). Their K/9 rate and IP are also good for third in the majors (7.75 and 598.1, respectively).

Their relievers’ stats, on the other hand, aren’t so good.

In fact, the Phillies have the NL’s worst bullpen K/9 rate at 7.38. While that’s among their worst stats, none of the others previously mentioned are even close to matching up to their counterpart starters’: the Phils’ team bullpen ERA is sixth in the NL at 3.24, their bullpen FIP is 12th in the NL at 3.88, their bullpen WAR is 11th in the NL at 1.1, and their BB/9 rate is 14th in the NL at 4.06.

Based upon these stats, it’s evident that the Phillies need some bullpen help. And while they have some deep bullpen talent in the minor leagues (Justin De Fratus and Phillippe Aumont, for example), many of those guys won’t be able to help until the end of the season, if they’re even available this season at all.

This means only one thing: the Phillies must look for outside help for their bullpen.

And that means they must trade for a relieving arm or two.

Let’s face it: between injury-prone closers (Ryan Madson, Brad Lidge, and Jose Contreras) and guys who just can’t seem to get the job done (Danys Baez, David Herndon), there are a quite few holes to fill in the Phillies’ bullpen.

While a few guys have been bright sparks in a dim bullpen (Madson, Antonio Bastardo, Michael Stutes, and Juan Perez as of late) this season, a contending team like the Phillies will need to add some bullpen arms if they plan on remaining in first place in the NL East, what with the Braves’ great rotation and their fantastic bullpen.

While it might be difficult for the Phillies to add a ‘pen arm to their relief corps this year due to the Phils’ close proximity to the luxury tax threshold, we’ve seen in the past that Ruben Amaro, Jr. isn’t afraid to make a move, and he’ll get it done in most any way possible. 

Here are five guys whom the Phillies could go after should he acquire another bullpen arm for the Phillies. 

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