Philadelphia landed right-hander Carlos Estévez in a trade with the Angels, the team announced Saturday.
In return, the Angels will receive pitching prospects Sam Aldegheri and George Klassen.
“He’s one of the best relievers in baseball this past year,” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said. “He’s a guy that can pitch the ninth inning. How [manager Rob Thomson] determines how he’s going to use him, we’ll see. It wouldn’t surprise me if he gets a lot of ninth innings.”
Estévez, 31, along with the Marlins’ Tanner Scott, were long viewed as the two biggest late-inning relievers likely to be traded before Tuesday’s deadline. Estévez has displayed immaculate control this season, with only three unintentional walks in 34 innings. He has struck out 32 and limited hitters to a .169/.202/.288 slash line while posting a 2.38 ERA with 20 saves.
The acquisition of Estévez addresses a critical need for the Phillies, who have struggled with bullpen consistency this season. His addition provides a reliable option for closing games, which has been a sore spot for the team.
Klassen, 22, is the prize of the deal. A sixth-round pick last year out of Minnesota, he struggled to throw strikes in college but has turned into a revelation with the Phillies. Featuring a 100 mph-plus fastball, he made nine starts in Low-A and posted a 0.71 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 12 walks in 38 innings. Since his promotion to High-A, Klassen has a 4.22 ERA but has maintained his high strikeout rate and kept walks under control.
Aldegheri, 22, born and raised in Verona, Italy, was recently promoted to Double-A after carving through High-A with 95 strikeouts, 28 walks, and only three home runs allowed in 68 innings. He is considered closer to the big leagues and could be a significant addition to the Angels' farm system.
The Phillies hope that Estévez can help stabilize their bullpen as they make a push for the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Angels look to bolster their pitching depth with promising prospects.
