The Philadelphia Phillies are all-in on the 2025 season. Unfortunately, so is most of the National League.
After three years of contention without getting the brass ring, the Phillies are hoping this year brings World Series glory. But there’s an obvious roster flaw standing in their way that will have to be addressed.
The Phillies’ bullpen has been subpar on the whole, and most glaringly of all, they lack a true closer. Free-agent acquisition Jordan Romano has an 8.79 ERA through 14 appearances, and though José Alvarado has been perfect in save situations this year, he’s typically been better as a set-up man throughout his career.
Fortunately, bullpen help is usually easy enough to find at the trade deadline. And one baseball writer has an ideal target for the Phillies to begin thinking about pursuing.
On Sunday, Brad Wakai of Phillies on SI proposed that Philadelphia could acquire St. Louis Cardinals two-time All-Star closer Ryan Helsley, who will be one of the biggest deadline prizes as he gets ready to hit free agency this winter.
“Helsley has been a dominant reliever starting in 2022 when he was selected to the All-Star Game and finished with a 1.25 ERA,” Wakai wrote.”Prior to the 2025 season, he has posted three straight campaigns with an ERA under 3.00, and his current number is at 3.21.
“Adding him would shore up the relief staff, moving Jose Alvarado into his previous Swiss Army role where he can be deployed in any high-leverage situation while still keeping a shutdown ninth inning man available.”
This season, the 30-year-old Helsley has a solid 3.21 ERA and 9.0 K/9. But he won the National League’s Reliever of the Year Award last season with a 2.04 ERA and a major league-leading 49 saves.
Helsley would be an expensive extension candidate, and it’s too early to tell if Philadelphia would be interested in keeping him around. But his $8 million salary would be easy for the Phillies to stomach, especially since more than half will be paid for by July.