Philadelphia Phillies Sharpen Their Bullpen Wish List
It’s no secret that the Phillies’ stacked lineup and solid rotation have kept them in the NL East driver’s seat, but peel back the curtain and trouble lurks in the bullpen. For a club with World Series on the brain, relief pitching has become the clear Achilles heel—Philly’s bullpen ranks a lowly 23rd in ERA at 4.36, a stat that just won’t cut it come October.
So what are the Phillies actually looking for as the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline approaches? According to team insiders and president Dave Dombrowski, it comes down to three things: electric strikeout stuff, the nerve for pressure-cooker moments, and the adaptability to chew up outs whenever, wherever. Let’s dig into how these priorities are shaping the search.
Striking Out Doubt: Power Arms Top the List
If there’s one currency that spends in today’s high-leverage bullpen market, it’s the ability to miss bats. The Phillies want pitchers who can step on the mound with the tying run on and rack up strikeouts, limiting the chance for fluky rallies. Why? Because outs with runners aboard are a tall order, and the top teams never have enough punchouts in their back pocket.
The team’s recent draft move highlights their thinking: Gage Wood, a right-hander boasting a live fastball in the 95 mph range and a mean curve. He isn’t just a future piece—he could find himself on a big-league mound before you know it if his swing-and-miss tools translate quickly.
But Wood is just the start. With the pen already reliant on Orion Kerkering’s slider, Jordan Romano’s late-inning presence, and Matt Strahm’s versatility, the Phillies want someone who can get strikeouts on demand so they aren’t stretching this core thin. Adding strikeout pitchers is top billing in all discussions with scouts and rival executives.
Plenty of current relievers flash swing-and-miss stuff but lack consistency or stamina for a deep playoff run. That’s why the next two traits—experience and versatility—matter just as much as pure stuff.

Experience Under Fire and Versatile Arms in Demand
Playoff baseball is a beast of its own. That’s why the Phillies front office is laser-focused on relievers who’ve logged innings under the postseason glare. Veterans matter. Jose Alvarado once filled that role, but with his suspension for a banned substance, the need for proven hands grows all the more glaring.
Enter David Robertson, freshly signed and unafraid of hostile October environments. At 40, he’s more than just a feel-good story—he brings a biting 93 mph cutter and a reputation for staying cool in late, tight games. The front office wants arms that don’t just throw hard, but have been there when the lights are brightest. Teams with extra veterans in their bullpen will find the Phils at their door, pen in hand.
Versatility isn’t far behind on the wishlist. A modern pen can’t just roll out one-inning specialists anymore—not when managers play matchups from the fifth inning on. Tanner Banks, a flexible lefty who can cover multiple innings, fits this bill. The Phillies already count on Strahm and Kerkering to wear multiple hats, but if injuries hit or fatigue sets in, more Swiss Army arms could be the difference between a ring and another near-miss.
President of Baseball Operations Dombrowski has been upfront: the Phillies won’t wait around as the deadline nears. The stakes are too high, the window is open wider than it’s been in years, and the bullpen’s gap looms as the last hurdle. Strikeout power, big-game nerves, and versatility—these aren’t just buzzwords in the Phillies’ war room. They’re the ingredients for a postseason bullpen that can finally slam the door.