The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees could be trade partners at some point.
The New York Yankees’ bullpen has been a major source of frustration for the team. In tight games, they constantly seem to be on the verge of collapse, and it’s anyone’s guess whether Camilo Doval or David Bednar will deliver in the seventh and eighth innings.
Despite Doval’s 5.40 ERA and Bednar’s 4.70 ERA, the bullpen collectively owns a 3.40 ERA, which ranks fourth in the American League. Only the Red Sox and Rangers have better bullpen ERAs among AL teams—and all three clubs currently have losing records.
If the Yankees truly want to separate themselves from the rest of the American League, strengthening the bullpen would create an almost impenetrable barrier between their starters and relievers by October. At that stage, on paper, the lineup would only need to hold up its end of the bargain.
One team to keep an eye on is the Philadelphia Phillies, specifically regarding their closer Jhoan Duran, whom they acquired from the Minnesota Twins last season. Duran would be a clear upgrade over Bednar, allowing Bednar to shift to the eighth inning. That move would deepen the bullpen and provide the kind of relief depth the Yankees have lacked over the past two seasons.
Waiting game
For Philadelphia, the approach will depend on their position by the trade deadline. They’ve struggled all year but currently sit at 29–27. Although they’re eight games out of first place in the National League, they are just one game back of a Wild Card spot as things stand.
Under Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies have consistently shown a willingness to go all in. With a roster featuring Christopher Sanchez, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber, it’s hard to envision them becoming sellers if they remain this close in a few months.
If Philadelphia falters again, Duran should become the Yankees’ top trade target. He has posted a 1.62 ERA over 16.2 innings, with an eye-popping 26 strikeouts and just five walks.
Duran’s signature pitch is his fastball, which ranks in the 99th percentile for velocity in all of baseball, averaging 100.1 mph.
Unfortunately, Bednar’s fastball has regressed. Last season, he averaged 97.1 mph on it; this year, that number has dropped to 95.8 mph.
Duran would be an upgrade over Bednar in every way. Acquiring him along with potentially Carlos Lagrange, whose fastball is even more electric than Duran’s, and possibly Ryan Weathers would boost the Yankees’ strikeout capability out of the bullpen. For a unit that has been a weakness, the bullpen could turn into a genuine strength.
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