Phillies Still Pursuing Carlos Estévez for Bullpen Boost…
The Philadelphia Phillies may not be done enhancing their bullpen despite their recent signing of star reliever Jordan Romano. Initially, it appeared the team had wrapped up its offseason bullpen upgrades, with Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski expressing confidence in the current roster of relievers, as reported by The Athletic’s Matt Gelb and Ken Rosenthal.
However, recent rumors suggest otherwise. MLB insider Héctor Gómez reports that the Phillies are among three teams, alongside the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, interested in former closer Carlos Estévez.
This pursuit aligns with the Phillies’ needs, as Estévez remains one of the top relief pitchers available in free agency. The former All-Star is coming off a career-best season, finishing with a 4-5 record, a stellar 2.45 ERA, and a 0.91 WHIP. In 55 innings over 54 appearances with the Los Angeles Angels and the Phillies, he recorded 50 strikeouts while allowing just 12 walks.
Estévez was a crucial part of the Phillies’ bullpen after joining the team at the trade deadline. Over 20 appearances, he posted a 3-2 record with six saves, a 2.57 ERA, and 18 strikeouts in 21 innings, helping to stabilize the bullpen during the season’s critical stretch.
The Phillies experienced significant losses in their bullpen this offseason with both Estévez and Jeff Hoffman departing via free agency, creating gaps in their relief corps. While Romano’s addition helps address this need, re-signing Estévez would provide the team with two dominant late-game options, bolstering their chances for success in the 2025 season.
Estévez likely has unfinished business in Philadelphia, potentially motivated to seek redemption following the team’s disappointing playoff exit last season.
With rival teams like the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Yankees making significant acquisitions, such as Juan Soto, Blake Snell, Max Fried, and Devin Williams, the Phillies face mounting pressure to stay competitive. Bringing back Estévez could be a pivotal move to keep pace in the race for the World Series.
