The Philadelphia Phillies pose a serious challenge to both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the World Series crown this season, but they’ll need to strengthen their roster to become true contenders.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Phillies are growing uneasy about one of their key bullpen pieces. This concern may push them to aggressively pursue a trade for a dependable late-inning reliever.
“The Phillies have become concerned with closer Jordan Romano, who averaged 96.8 mph on his fastball two years ago, but now is down to about 92-94 mph and struggling holding on runners,” Nightengale reported.
This performance dip sheds light on why the Blue Jays opted not to tender Romano a contract last offseason, leading to the Phillies signing him to a one-year, $8.5 million deal.
If Philadelphia no longer trusts Romano in high-leverage situations, they might target Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley as a trade option. Helsley, known for his high-velocity pitches, is in the final year of his contract. With Spotrac projecting his next deal to reach around $81 million, it’s unlikely the Cardinals will re-sign him.
After losing Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman in free agency and failing to find suitable replacements, acquiring Helsley would not only fill that void but provide an upgrade. While a trade for Helsley would be costly, it could be a move that pays off in a big way for the Phillies.
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