Coming to a Close
There didn’t seem to be a lot of people who were thrilled with what the Phillies did at the trade deadline. For as much as the acquisition of closer Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins drew universal praise, the fans were disappointed that the only addition to the offense was outfielder Harrison Bader, a plus fielder who is not an considered a game-changing hitter, although he hit 12 home runs with Minnesota. Only three Phillies have hit more than 12 home runs and the lack of power has been a problem.
The bottom line is that Bader doesn’t appear to be a major needle mover.
The same can’t be said about Duran.
He is considered among the top closers in the game.
Duran, who turns 28 in January, won’t be eligible for free agency until 2028 so that means the Phillies have his rights for the next three postseasons.
He has also pitched well in the playoffs with a 0.00 ERA in four appearances during the 2023 playoffs.
Duran made a spectacular debut with the Phillies, not only with his entrance video, but he earned a one-inning save on just four pitches in the Phillies 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers.
He then earned another save in Sunday’s 2-0 win over the Tigers, ending the game by striking out the final batter with a 103 MPH elevated fastball.
Having a pitcher that can lock down the ninth inning means so much to a club.
Duran changes the entire outlook of the bullpen.
In addition, David Robertson is expected to be available sometime this month, although he hasn’t been lights out in his early rehab appearances after signing with the Phillies as a free agent. Robertson is also 40-years-old, but he should at least get a chance to be in the late-inning (seventh inning on) relief mix.
Jose Alvarado is eligible to return Aug. 19 from his 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance enhancing substance. Alvarado is still ineligible to pitch in the postseason this season, but one has to figure that he will get a shot at late-inning appearances.
Orion Kerkering has probably been the Phillies best reliever this season and now with Duran on board, the Phillies could use Kerkering in matchup situations. If there are tough righthanders coming to bat in the seventh inning, he could be used then. He also has the ability to be a classic setup eighth inning reliever.
Other than that, there are questions, including with Matt Straham, who has been inconsistent, especially lately. He certainly has a chance to get bumped from 7-9th inning territory. Straham will need to show more consistency over the final two months to continue being called on in critical roles.
The starting staff is among the best in baseball, but the Phillies have to get more clutch hitting.
That said, they are a much better team than before the trade deadline simply by the addition of Duran.
It is a move that could be a catalyst for a strong postseason run.
The Phillies were in desperate need of a power bullpen arm. The fact that they were able to acquire a certified closer, should give them much more confidence as they look to nail down a postseason berth, while also attempting to earn a first-round bye, which will be awarded to the two division winners with the best records.
Photo: Jhoan Duran / Courtesy Phillies' Twitter
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Author: Marc Narducci
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