Will Phillies Use ‘Closer By Committee’ After Carlos Estevez Trade?
Dave Dombrowski struck again just days ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline on July 30. The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired Carlos Estevez from the Los Angeles Angels for minor league pitchers Sam Aldegheri and George Klassen.
The Phillies landed one of the top relievers on the market with a significant track record as a closer. Will the addition put an end to the “closer by committee” approach Rob Thomson has used with his bullpen?
Carlos Estevez
Estevez saved 20 games in 23 chances for the Angels this season. He’s established himself as a reliable closer with an 87.9% percentage in save opportunities in his only two seasons in Southern California.
Estevez trudged through six seasons with the Colorado Rockies from 2016-2022. His 4.59 career ERA didn’t look too appealing, but Coors Field also hasn’t been too friendly to pitchers.
The right-hander has posted a 2.38 ERA in 34 games in 2024. His 0.74 WHIP ranks third among qualified MLB relievers, and he’s walked just three batters all season (unintentionally).
His average fastball has clocked at 96.4 miles per hour in 2024, ranking in the 88th percentile of MLB pitchers. Dombrowski spoke highly of Estevez’s competitive attitude joining a World Series contender.
“He’s got an above average fastball. He’s got a plus slider. He’s a bulldog on the mound. He’s a guy that has developed a change-up.” -Dave Dombrowski
Closer By Committee?
Despite Estevez’s high save totals, neither Dombrowski nor Thomson would commit to their new right-hander as the designated closer.
He’ll most likely join the competition for high-leverage postseason innings that will go to the Phillies relievers in the best rhythm.
Thomson’s rotation worked in 2022 when five different pitchers recorded one save apiece on the way to a World Series appearance. Craig Kimbrel converted his first three save opportunities during the 2023 playoffs, but he lost trust in the ninth inning with two rough outings against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Jose Alvarado and Jeff Hoffman have alternated in save opportunities for most of the 2024 regular season.
Thomson spoke on July 20 about establishing a bullpen hierarchy before Red October.
“I think that’s a flowing thing all throughout the year because guys get hot (and) guys get cold. You’re constantly sort of feeling that out and trying to make sure that you put guys in the right spot where they’re going to be successful or where you think they’re going to be successful and making sure you’re not overusing guys or underusing guys. It’s a constant battle just to try to create that balance.” –Rob Thomson
Phillies Bullpen
A bullpen loaded with power arms and nasty stuff has hit a serious speed bump. They’ve lacked command of the pitches that have helped them establish reputations as high-leverage relievers capable of erasing opposing hitters.
The Phillies entered play on July 14 third in the majors in bullpen ERA. They dropped to 16th entering play on July 27.
Related Content: 11 Best Trades in Philadelphia Phillies History
Dombrowski dealt Seranthony Dominguez as part of the trade that brought over Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles. The subtraction of a veteran reliever provided a clear indicator that another trade was coming.
Despite the recent slump, the Phillies feel comfortable in their relief pitchers to regain form. They expect lefties Jose Alvarado, Matt Strahm, and Gregory Soto and righties Jeff Hoffman and Orion Kerkering to pitch in high-leverage situations during the postseason. Now, Carlos Estevez joins the mix.
Merit-Based Bullpen
Dombrowski and Thomson estimated that Estevez will pitch in the ninth inning a good amount. If he shows the ability to secure the coveted closer designation, the Phillies will give him the label happily entering Red October.
Thomson and the Phillies have taken the “closer by committee” approach because they’ve believed it’s the best option for the team at given points. However, they haven’t demonstrated a mindset that they’re decidedly stuck on this approach.
They’ve instead shown the willingness to grant high-leverage opportunities based on merit.
Hoffman didn’t appear in an MLB game in 2023 until May. He somehow surpassed Dominguez in the right-handed hierarchy by the end of the regular season.
Alvarado struggled to begin the 2022 season so badly that the Phillies optioned him to Triple A in May. He quickly proved he deserved the biggest spots available for lefties during the run to the World Series just a few months later.
Dombrowski’s move to acquire a pitcher qualified to close for a postseason team adds another ingredient of talent to the mix for Thomson.
The Phillies believe in Thomson’s merit-based rotation to reveal the best option. If Carlos Estevez is the the best option to pitch the ninth inning of a postseason game, he’d theoretically show his manager with a strong performance in high-leverage innings in the final months of the 2024 regular season.
If he doesn’t prove he’s capable of a closer designation, expect to see the “closer by committee” approach during the playoffs.
“The reality comes down, for me, we wanted the best guy to give us a chance we felt to win this year. There might’ve been some guys that maybe we could’ve gotten from (longer options for club) control but we didn’t think were as good (of) pitchers to win in the postseason… We just felt he’s the right guy.” -Dave Dombrowski on acquiring Carlos Estevez
11 Worst Trades in Philadelphia Phillies History
11. Von "541" Hayes
December 9, 1982
Phillies Get: Von Hayes
Cleveland Indians: Manny Trillo, George Vukovich, Julio Franco, Jay Baller, Jerry WillardPete Rose coined the infamous “541” nickname when the Phillies acquired Von Hayes in 1982. Paul Owens gave up the haul for someone he thought was worth it.
Hayes might’ve clicked better with the Philadelphia fan base without the high expectations. He had a decent nine-year stretch, and he even finished eighth in MVP voting after a career season in 1986. However “541” was all anybody focused on.
Manny Trillo bounced around the majors in his later years after the trade. George Vukovich, Jay Baller, and Jerry Willard didn’t ultimately make the Phillies regret their decision.
Julio Franco somehow haunted the Phillies into the early 2000s. He stuck with the Braves into his 40s and retired in 2007 after 23 MLB seasons with eight teams.
10. Saying Goodbye To Chase Utley
August 19, 2015
Phillies Get: Darnell Sweeney, John Richy
Los Angeles Dodgers Get: Chase Utley, cashThe Phillies kept franchise heroes like Chase Utley around a little too long after 2011. They probably could’ve gotten a better return a year or two sooner.
Utley’s knees had pushed him out of his prime by 2015. Darnell Sweeney hit under the Mendoza line in his only 37 major league games, all with the Phillies. John Richy never made it to the show.
Was Utley in his prime when he went to Los Angeles? No, but they certainly didn’t expect to get 386 games out of a veteran with a World Series pedigree.
Acquiring one of the best heads-up players in MLB history helped the Dodgers win four NL West pennants in Utley’s four seasons, even if he wasn’t the main cause of their success.
9. A Sharp Turn And A Twist Of Irony
December 20, 2002
Phillies Get: Kevin Millwood
Braves Get: Johnny EstradaJohnny Estrada filled in well for MIke Liberthal in 89 games in 2001. However, it made sense to trade a young catcher who wasn’t going to overtake an established veteran in front of him.
Acquiring Kevin Millwood from the Braves looked like it could help solidify the starting staff of a team that had just signed Jim Thome.
The league finally had to take the Phillies seriously in 2003, and Millwood got the city excited with a no-hitter at Veterans Stadium less than a month into his tenure. Lieberthal legitimized the trade with a career best .313 average.
The outlook on the trade took a fast, wild turn in 2004. Millwood struggled at the top of the rotation in his final season with the Phillies. The fan base made him the whipping boy of an underperforming squad.
Estrada, meanwhile, earned a National League All-Star appearance and the Silver Slugger honors. Lieberthal started declining at age 32.
A frustrating Phillies team took heat for their inability to drive in runners in scoring position. Estrada ironically excelled with a newfound strength in that very category.
Estrada only spent one more season with the Braves after 2004. He was out of the majors by 2008. However, Phillies fans can never fully shake the irony of a trade that looked one-sided in their favor before the pendulum swung so drastically.
8. The Flyin' Hawaiian
July 31, 2012
Phillies Get: Josh Lindblom, Ethan Martin, player to be named later (Stefan Jarrin)
Los Angeles Dodgers Get: Shane VictorinoThe Phillies waited too long to send Chase Utley to the Dodgers after the fallout from the 2011 playoff loss. They didn’t wait long enough to send Shane Victorino.
The Flyin’ Hawaiian was a dynamic talent who won two Gold Gloves in Philadelphia. He was only 31 years old at the time of the trade. The Phillies simply didn’t get enough in return for a player with plenty of good baseball left.
Ethan Martin made only eight career starts, and Stefan Jarrin never played in the major leagues. Josh Lindblom had some potential as a reliever, but the Phillies only kept him for the remainder of the 2012 season.
Victorino celebrated his second World Series the next season as a member of the Boston Red Sox.
7. Mysterious Medicals For Freddy Garcia
December 6, 2006
Phillies Get: Freddy Garcia Chicago
White Sox Get: Gio Gonzalez, Gavin FloydThe Phillies traded two pitching prospects to the White Sox for Freddy Garcia entering the 2007 season. Landing an expected ace was a big part of the reason Jimmy Rollins spoke so confidently about “the team to beat” in the NL East.
It turned out to be one of the worst trades in franchise history. Garcia pitched 11 games in his only season in Philadelphia. The injuries that kept him off the mound very well might’ve existed before the trade.
Lauded top prospect Gavin Floyd never developed well in the Phillies system. He recovered for a career as a serviceable starter in the middle of a solid major league rotation.
It was Gio Gonzalez who really irked Phillies fans who looked back on the trade.
The Phillies lost in the 2011 MLB Playoffs and quickly realized their lack of a farm system. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals seized control of the NL East.
Gonzalez broke out in 2012 to help put the Nats on the map. He finished third in NL Cy Young voting in a career season.
He cooled off as an ace, but he still helped anchor the Washington rotation for a long stretch of his MLB career.
The Freddy Garcia trade strangely landed the Phillies Tadahito Iguchi in an indirect handshake agreement between Kenny Williams and Pat Gillick later in the 2007 season.
6. An Unnecessary Unload: Cliff Lee Part I
December 16, 2009
Phillies Get: Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies, J.C. Ramirez
Seattle Mariners Get: Cliff LeeThe Phillies acquired Cliff Lee in July 2009 in one of the best deals in franchise history. They dealt him to the Seattle Mariners for three unimpactful prospects less than six months later.
Ruben Amaro Jr. acquired Roy Halladay on the same day, but he shifted his eyes to the future after giving up top pitching prospect Kyle Drabek. The moves were interconnected, but trading for Halladay didn’t directly require trading away Lee.
The nonchalant lefty helped the Texas Rangers to an appearance in the 2010 World Series with another outstanding postseason run.
J.C. Ramirez later bounced around the majors as a reliever, but he only pitched in 18 games with a 7.50 ERA for the Phillies.
Tyson Gillies never played a big league game, and Phillippe Aumont disastrously struggled to harness a loaded arsenal of pitches. He floated back and forth from Lehigh Valley from 2012-2016 without any substantial major league success.
Lee stunned the world, especially the New York Yankees, when he reunited with the Phillies entering the 2011 season.
4. Losing Curt Schilling
July 26, 2000
Phillies Get: Vicente Padilla, Omar Daal, Travis Lee, Nelson Figueroa
Arizona Diamondbacks Get: Curt SchillingThe move to land Curt Schilling for Jason Grimsley in 1992 looked like a steal. The fortune caught up to the Phillies, as the Diamondbacks made one of the best trades in their franchise history.
The Phillies spiraled downward into futility after 1993 as Schilling rose into his prime. By 2000, it became obvious that they couldn’t keep their ace any longer.
Schilling won two World Series and finished second in Cy Young voting three times after the Phillies traded him at age 33. He continued to develop his reputation as one of the fiercest competitors in all of sports.
He and Randy Johnson formed an unhittable duo on the memorable ride to the World Series in 2001. Arizona’s victory over the New York Yankees came with all of America watching just weeks after the 9/11 tragedy. The pair of aces split the MVP.
Former second-overall pick Travis Lee could’ve developed as the centerpiece, but he never lived up to his draft status. Omar Daal and Nelson Figueroa didn’t amount to much with the Phillies.
Former GM Ed Wade did land Vicente Padilla in the trade. The Nicaraguan righty spent six seasons in the middle of the starting rotation for Philadelphia. He ended up pitching 14 MLB seasons.
3. Wondering What Could've Been
April 21, 1966
Phillies Get: Adolfo Phillips, John Herrnstein
Chicago Cubs Get: Ferguson Jenkins, Bob Buhl, Larry JacksonThe Phillies brought Ferguson Jenkins up to the majors for seven appearances in 1965, but they didn’t give the young right-hander much of a chance in 1966.
A franchise nearing 100 years of existence in brutal futility just two years removed from the epic collapse of 1964 traded away a future Hall of Famer for two players who barely made a footnote in Phillies history.
Jenkins won the 1971 NL Cy Young as the highlight of his prime seasons with the Cubs. He also spent time with the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox as part of a 19-year career.
Philadelphia was left to wonder what could’ve been.
2. A Memorable Sendoff & A Forgettable Trade
July 31, 2015
Phillies Get: Jered Eickhoff, Jorge Alfaro, Nick Williams, Matt Harrison, Jake Thompson, Alec Asher
Texas Rangers Get: Cole Hamels, Jake DiekmanProfessional sports is an unforgiving business. Athletes don’t usually know when their last game in a particular uniform will come.
Cole Hamels, however, was all but certain the Phillis would move him before the MLB Trade Deadline in 2015.
He might’ve known that July 25, 2015 would be the last day he’d start a game for the Phillies, but he didn’t know about the unforgettable farewell that was about to take place.
The 2008 World Series MVP threw his only career no-hitter at Wrigley Field. His teammates swarmed him in an emotional moment in Phillies history.
The goodbye, unfortunately, became way more significant than the return package in the ensuing trade. Hamels was only 31, and he pitched four more substantial MLB seasons.
The early return on Jered Eickhoff, Jorge Alfaro, and Nick Williams didn’t look too bad. However, none of the six players the Phillies acquired stuck around too long.
Making matters worse, Ruben Amaro Jr. also sent Jake Diekman to Texas. A reasonable case can be made that the journeyman reliever alone has provided more value than any of the six players in the return package.
That’s right. The Phillies would’ve lost the trade even if Hamels wasn’t part of it.
1. An Easy Choice In The Top Spot
January 27, 1982
Phillies Get: Ivan de Jesus
Chicago Cubs Get: Ryne Sandberg, Larry BowaPaul Owens and Bill Giles made one of the worst mistakes in franchise history in 1982. Trading Larry Bowa was never going to make Philadelphia happy to begin with. He was the scrappy catalyst of the 1980 World Series team, a five-time All-Star, and a player who identified with the city like very few others could.
The Phillies wouldn’t let sentimentality keep a 36-year-old around. They sent Bowa to the Cubs for a reunion with former manager Dallas Green.
Green insisted that the Phillies included a middle infielder as a pot sweetener. Ryne Sandberg spent 15 seasons with the Cubs. He made 10 consecutive All-Star appearances from 1984-1993 and established himself as one of the best players in the history of a storied franchise. The accolades landed him in the Hall of Fame.
The Phillies only gave him six plate appearances in 13 major league games before the deal. A bizarre twist of fate landed him back in Philadelphia as the manager from 2013-2015 during a forgettable era.
Ivan de Jesus played 158 games in 1983 for a team that advanced to the World Series. However, his underwhelming play in three seasons only poured salt on the wound of the worst trade in Phillies history.
