Phillies Front Office Trends Suggest Ex-Yankees All-Star Could Be Bullpen Trade Target
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The Philadelphia Phillies endured a surprising sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday and it prompted some big changes to the roster.
As the team looks to recover from the loss of reliever Jose Alvarado after a harsh suspension, it made a series of moves in a surprising bullpen shakeup. The Phillies designated Jose Ruiz for assignment, called up Seth Johnson from Triple-A, moved starter Taijuan Walker to a relief role and brought young starter Mick Abel into the rotation.
But even as the team looks to bounce back from the sweep with that series of changes, it seems unlikely they are finished addressing their relief corps.
"The Phillies will shop in the reliever aisle," Scott Lauber reported for The Philadelphia Inquirer. "With (Dave) Dombrowski leading the front office, the Phillies dealt for a reliever at three of the last four deadlines."
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 28: President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski of the Boston Red Sox reacts before the 2019 Opening day game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on March 28, 2019 in...
SEATTLE, WA - MARCH 28: President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski of the Boston Red Sox reacts before the 2019 Opening day game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on March 28, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston)Given that history and the team's need, Lauber suggested the Phillies could add Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman in a trade.
"Even if the Red Sox don't fully wave the white flag, they could trade lefty closer Aroldis Chapman, who has provided a solid return (2.05 ERA, 8-for-9 in save chances through Thursday) on their $10.75 million, one-year investment," Lauber wrote. "He's throwing more strikes, too, reducing his walk rate to 9%, his lowest mark since 2020."
Though Chapman is enjoying a resurgent season with the Red Sox, he's best known as a former superstar with the New York Yankees, for whom he earned three of his career seven All-Star nods as the best closer in all of baseball at the time. Though he's no longer on that level, his season in Boston so far is showing he could be a significant add for a team pushing toward the World Series.
The Phillies are hoping to qualify as that kind of team, though they'll need to sort out their bullpen first.
More MLB: Phillies' Bryce Harper Breaks Silence on Kyle Schwarber's Upcoming Free Agency
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