The Philadelphia Phillies are looking like contenders in the National League once again. However, they have a clear need they need to address at the trade deadline.
The Phillies lost their closer, José Alvarado, to a suspension that will make him ineligible for the postseason. The Phillies have been using Jordan Romano at closer. He has been inconsistent, even though he has notched eight saves. He has a 7.54 ERA in 25 games. FanSided’s Michael Hennelly suggested Aroldis Chapman of the Boston Red Sox as a target for the Phillies at the trade deadline.
“The Phillies must monitor this situation closely and shouldn’t be afraid of pulling the trigger on a trade if Chapman is made available,” wrote Hennelly. “He may be old, but Chapman could be the missing piece to a World Series in 2025.”
Chapman is 37 years old, but he is showing he can still be an effective closer. He has a 1.80 ERA, nine saves and 33 strikeouts. The seven-time All-Star is still touching triple digits with his fastball and would be valuable for the Phillies.
“Chapman has been one of the best closers of his generation,” wrote Hennelly. “The 37-year-old is a seven-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion. He’s best known for his overpowering fastball that reaches triple digits and a nasty sinker.
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“Most impressively, Chapman has sustained his success for a long time. He owns a 2.60 ERA throughout his 16-year career, with 14.66 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. His 344 saves are the third most among active closers and rank 15th all-time.”
The Red Sox are not sellers just yet, but they are not heading in the right direction. They are 30-34 and in danger of falling out of even the Wild Card race. If the July 31 deadline gets close and they are not in the postseason picture, they could be willing to dump Chapman.
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