At the trade deadline, the Philadelphia Phillies bolstered their roster with players who could help them compete this season. As a result, some of these new additions have contracts that expire soon and will become free agents in the offseason.
For a team in contention, adding a pitcher of his caliber is always a smart choice.
In August, Estévez has performed his role well. Although there have been moments he could have done better, he has given up just three earned runs in 9 2/3 innings, maintaining a 2.79 ERA for the month. However, Estévez has been even more impressive earlier in the season. He didn’t allow an earned run in 9 innings pitched in July and was similarly effective in June.
The Phillies have a history of paying players who contribute to their success. If Estévez continues his strong performance through October and into the postseason, it’s likely the Phillies will try to re-sign him. However, Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report predicts he might end up with a new team in 2025.
Kelly notes, “Carlos Estévez is the primary closer for the Phillies, but he hasn’t had many save opportunities since joining from the Los Angeles Angels. Nevertheless, the 2023 All-Star is having a career year and should do well in free agency… Relievers often find success on the market, and Estévez could join a team looking for a closer, a matchup-based role, or a top setup man.”
Estévez seems like a player that Phillies president Dave Dombrowski would want to keep, provided his demands don’t become exorbitant. A strong performance in October would benefit both Estévez and the team, but it could also drive up his market value. Meanwhile, Taijuan Walker spoke to the media after a lackluster outing against the Astros, reflecting positively on the Phillies’ offense and the upcoming postseason, despite acknowledging he might not be part of it.
Manager Rob Thomson did not rule out the possibility of changes in Walker’s role, indicating a need for further discussion. Such statements from Thomson, known for his trust in his players, often hint at potential shifts.
His teammates and Thomson have praised his work ethic and attitude.
Thomson expressed sympathy for Walker, acknowledging his hard work and effort to improve, despite the disappointing results. The Phillies’ lead over the Brewers for the No. 2 seed in the National League has narrowed to 1 1/2 games, and they have fallen behind the Dodgers for the top spot. Every game is crucial.
The team’s postseason position could be influenced by a few games, potentially less than the number of recent struggles experienced by Walker, who has now lost 10 of his 14 starts, with nine consecutive losses. Walker mentioned that despite the poor results, he viewed the outing as progress due to improvements in his pitching. Thomson shared that he was encouraged by Walker’s increased velocity in his previous start, even though it was down in the latest game.
