A week from Wednesday, Phillies fans will be analyzing the moves Dave Dombrowski and Co. made before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline.
It has been a fun debate in recent weeks: What should be the Phillies’ priority? Is it a right-handed-hitting outfielder or a late-inning reliever? Strong cases have been made for both, but recent struggles in the bullpen have reinforced the idea that Philadelphia must find Rob Thomson another late-inning weapon for the postseason.
The more October options, the better.
Consider the eighth inning of Tuesday night’s 3-0 victory over the Twins at Target Field. Phillies right-hander Jeff Hoffman (1.07 ERA in 43 appearances) has been one of best relievers in the Majors this season. But Hoffman issued a leadoff walk to Christian Vázquez, and he then walked Trevor Larnach with one out. Hoffman struck out Carlos Santana for the second out, but left-hander Gregory Soto (3.27 ERA in 40 appearances) entered the game to face Max Kepler.
The pitching change had nothing to do with Thomson’s faith in Hoffman. But the Phillies are looking for late-inning options with José Alvarado struggling and likely pitching in lower-leverage situations in the short term.
Thomson wants to see if Soto can be a guy.
Soto has been inconsistent since he joined the Phillies last season, but he has pitched better recently. He has allowed one run in 14 2/3 innings over his past 16 appearances, striking out 22 and walking six.
Soto’s 2-0 slider to Kepler so badly missed its mark that it hit the backstop, and Larnach and Byron Buxton advanced to second and third. Soto then threw another ball, walking Kepler to load the bases.
Soto was behind Ryan Jeffers, 3-1, but he got him to hit a ground ball to third baseman Alec Bohm, who made a nice play to end the inning.
“He’s been throwing the ball so well,” Thomson said. “And I’ll give him another opportunity or two, because he’s got that capability. … It has nothing to do with Hoffman. I have the utmost confidence in Hoffman. And I’m sure that he’s going to get out of that, but we’ve got to find out and give Soto reps in that situation.”
Hoffman and Matt Strahm (1.88 ERA in 41 appearances) have been stalwarts since the beginning of the year. Orion Kerkering (1.69 ERA in 37 appearances) has pitched well, although he hasn’t been as sharp recently.
“We’ve ridden him pretty hard at certain times,” Thomson said.
Alvarado (4.24 ERA in 43 appearances) and Seranthony Domínguez (4.75 ERA in 38 appearances) have struggled, which is why Thomson said before Tuesday’s game that Soto could see opportunities in the ninth.
Alvarado has an 11.81 ERA in his past six appearances and a 6.92 ERA in 14 appearances since June 9. His strikeout rate (25.4 percent) is the lowest since his rookie season in 2017 (23.6 percent). It is down considerably since last year (37.2 percent).
Domínguez has allowed 10 runs (seven earned) in his past 11 1/3 innings.
The Phillies need to get Alvarado and Domínguez right, but there are no guarantees they do, which is why another trusted reliever is needed.
Relievers who are impending free agents include Miami’s Tanner Scott (1.24 ERA, 17 saves), the Angels’ Carlos Estévez (2.45 ERA, 19 saves), Toronto’s Yimi García (2.48 ERA, five saves) and Washington’s Dylan Floro (2.02 ERA). Relievers who are controlled through 2025 include Toronto’s Chad Green (1.88 ERA, seven saves), Washington’s Kyle Finnegan (2.32 ERA, 28 saves) and Tampa Bay’s Pete Fairbanks (3.28 ERA, 19 saves).
Tampa Bay’s Jason Adam (2.20 ERA, four saves) is under team control through 2026, while Oakland’s Mason Miller (2.21 ERA, 15 saves) is under team control through 2029.
Any of those relievers would help. Until the Phillies acquire one, though, Thomson will keep looking for relievers he can trust.
