Phillies Trade Idea Solves 'Grave' Bullpen Need With Career 76-Save Closer

Phillies Trade Idea Solves 'Grave' Bullpen Need With Career 76-Save Closer originally appeared on Athlon Sports.It's no secret that the Philadelphia Phillies need bullpen help at the 2025 MLB trade deadline following the Jose Alvarado suspension.The Phillies currently only have three relief pitchers called upon with regularity who have ERAs under 4.00.

They are LHP Matt Strahm, RHP Orion Kerkering and LHP Tanner Banks.Current closer Jordan Romero has certainly shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, but he still has an ERA over 7.00 as of June 3.Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks throws a pitch at George M.

Steinbrenner Field in 2025.Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn ImagesNeedless to say, the Phillies' number one trade deadline target should be a high-end reliever, and that's exactly what ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan suggested within an article on June 3."Maybe it's [Pete] Fairbanks.

Maybe it's [Kyle] Finnegan.

Maybe it's both.

Or even more," Passan noted.

"The Phillies' bullpen has been one of the worst in baseball.

Even if it was much better in May."Passan settled on the Tampa Bay Rays closer, Fairbanks, as the "best fit" for Philadelphia at the deadline.

And this is an intriguing idea for the Phillies.Fairbanks is a proven high-leverage reliever with 76 career saves, including the playoffs.

In 2025, he has pitched to a filthy 2.05 ERA with 10 saves and 17 total games that he's "finished" in a save or non-save situation.Fairbanks also has adequate to good swing-and-miss stuff, with a career strikeouts per nine average of 11.7 that is down a little bit this year at exactly 9.0.

Meaning he has struck out the same number of batters as innings pitched (22 Ks in 22.0 IP).After beginning his MLB career as a ninth-round pick of the Texas Rangers, Fairbanks has worked his way up the ladder with the Rays.

He turned 31 years old in December, and still has plenty of prime years left as a reliever.Lastly, a trade for Fairbanks could be a two-year move, as he has a $7 million club option in his contract for 2026."With Jose Alvarado down for 80 games and out for the postseason following a PED suspension, the need for help is that much more grave," Passan concluded, and he's right.Related: Rob Thomson Optimistic Amid Phillies' Poor Defensive Showing Against BrewersRelated: Phillies Linked to $50 Million Star to Replace Beloved OutfielderThis story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared..

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