The Philadelphia Phillies made a big move to acquire Jhoan Duran from the Minnesota Twins because they desperately needed bullpen support last season.
Since moving to Philadelphia, he has been fantastic, and they no longer desperately require top-notch bullpen assistance. However, they were connected to one reliever who has a 90% chance of getting sold as the 2026 MLB trade deadline draws near.
Aroldis Chapman, the 0.44 ERA closer for the Boston Red Sox, would be a highly intriguing addition to the Phillies, considering the left-hander is not frequently associated with Philadelphia, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel.
“Best fits: Mariners, Pirates, White Sox, Dodgers, Rays, Phillies, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Blue Jays, Guardians,” Passan and McDaniel wrote.
Chapman’s flame-throwing Red Sox closer is the perfect trade acquisition for clubs in need of bullpen assistance this season, so there are some clear matches for this bunch.
However, it doesn’t make much sense for the Phillies to be interested in Chapman given that they currently depend on Duran as their closer. At least, that’s what it could seem like on the surface.
The Phillies would have two outstanding relievers in Duran and Chapman who could end games in the eighth and ninth innings if Dave Dombrowski signed Chapman.
If the Phillies deal for Chapman, they would always have top-notch pitchers on the mound because Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, and Jesus Luzardo have all pitched brilliantly this season, particularly late in games.
Orion Kerkering has been on mop-up duty this season, while Brad Keller, who is on the disabled list, has struggled as Duran’s setup man. In crucial situations, Jonathan Bowlan cannot yet be relied upon.
The Phillies would have the best setup man in MLB if they signed Chapman, a lefty complement to Duran who could close games if Duran needs a break.
In most cases, the Phillies would win games if they had a lead going into the eighth inning because they would have two of the best relievers in Major League Baseball in the eighth and ninth innings.
It’s all theoretical, of course, and the Phillies would be better off using their trade resources to acquire an outfielder. However, it’s still a fascinating trade connection that fans could genuinely be thrilled about.
