On Sunday, the Philadelphia Phillies were dealt a tough blow when it was announced that left-hander Jose Alvarado would be suspended 80 games for PED use.
To make matters worse, Alvarado is also ineligible for the postseason. The Phillies bullpen has struggled, and they are now without a high-leverage arm.
Soon, they might have to dive into the trade market and add another arm to boost the ‘pen. They already lost Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez last offseason.
R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports proposed the idea of Philadelphia trading for Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks.
“Fairbanks has a club option for next season that will nearly double his salary if it gets exercised. In other words, the Rays will almost certainly trade him between now and Opening Day 2026. Given that Tampa Bay remains under .500, it’s fair to think a deal could come together this summer,” Anderson wrote.
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Fairbanks is off to a good start this season for the struggling Rays. In 19 appearances, he has saved eight games and posted a 2.50 ERA. For his career, he owns a 3.23 ERA
Even with the trade deadline not until July 31, the Phillies are in a pinch, and it might be wise for them to try and add a reliever now before the competition heats up in the coming weeks.
The bullpen was already struggling, even with Alvarado active, so it would certainly make sense for the Phillies to start searching now.
There is no shortage of options for the team. They need a proven arm, and they’ll need it soon if they want to catch the New York Mets. We’ll see where they land.
More MLB: Phillies trade idea lands 2-time All-Star to replace José Alvarado
