Phillies Eye All-Star Closer in Trade Pitch to NL East Rival
The Philadelphia Phillies have kicked off the 2025 season on a high note, but there’s one major concern lingering: the closer role.
Jordan Romano, a recent addition to the bullpen, has struggled in his first five outings. While José Alvarado has impressed with 10 strikeouts over five innings, his track record of inconsistency still raises red flags. To stabilize the bullpen, the Phillies may need to look elsewhere—and a potential solution lies just a few hours away in Washington.
Kyle Finnegan, the All-Star closer for the Washington Nationals, is entering the final year of his deal. He converted 38 of 43 save opportunities last season with a 3.68 ERA over 63.2 innings. In 2025, he’s picked up right where he left off, going 3-for-3 in save chances to start the season.
Given his expiring contract and Washington’s rebuilding status, Finnegan is a prime candidate to be dealt. While St. Louis closer Ryan Helsley is another name to watch, it’s uncertain if the Cardinals will be sellers. The Phillies would be smart not to wait and instead get proactive with a trade offer.
Last summer, Philly traded their No. 24 and 29 prospects—Sam Aldegheri and George Klassen—to the Angels for Carlos Estévez, who was in a similar situation as Finnegan: an expiring deal and the best closer available.
This time, the Phillies could build a comparable package using:
- Micah Ottenbreit, the club’s No. 28 prospect and a right-hander working his way back from Tommy John surgery. He’s currently pitching at High-A Lakewood.
- Otto Kemp, a versatile infielder who’s already made a splash with three home runs in his first nine Triple-A games. Though blocked within the Phillies system, he could fill a future role at third or first base in Washington, where the Nats have long-term uncertainty.
While Ottenbreit remains a developmental arm, Kemp’s upside and MLB readiness could appeal to the Nationals, who could use his versatility and power potential off the bench.
If the Phillies want to shore up their bullpen and chase a deep playoff run, targeting Finnegan now—rather than gambling at the deadline—might be their smartest move yet.
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