Overview
- The Phillies bullpen ranks 23rd in MLB with a 4.35 ERA, prompting urgency to shore up late-inning support.
- Mick Abel, the club’s No. 5 prospect, has been optioned to Triple-A after five uneven major-league starts and ties a debut strikeout record.
- Miami’s Anthony Bender has posted a 2.13 ERA with a power sinker-slider mix, making him one of its top trade candidates.
- Calvin Faucher offers versatile multi-inning relief, the type of bridge arm Philadelphia has lacked this season.
- A December trade for Jesús Luzardo shows the Phillies’ willingness to deal within the NL East to meet immediate postseason needs.