This season, the Philadelphia Phillies want to make some roster changes. Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos, two All-Stars, have already been linked to a trade, but that may not be the last roster change. Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez, two important relievers for Philadelphia, are set to enter free agency this winter. This season, both right-handers were reliable for the Phillies.
Christopher Kline of FanSided recently implied that the Phillies would sever their relationship with Estévez, but he also implied that they would be quite pleased with the choice. According to Spotrac, Estévez is expected to agree to a three-year, $42 million contract this winter.
“Ultimately, Estévez—and the bullpen as a whole—fell short when it mattered most in the postseason,” Kline remarked. “The Mets’ swift 3-1 victory in the NLDS was largely due to Estévez’s struggles to deliver in a pivotal high-pressure situation, though he wasn’t solely responsible for Philadelphia’s underwhelming performance. In 2025, he’ll undoubtedly excel as a closer for another team.”
Letting Estévez into free agency may be a bit of a risk, but Kline is most likely correct given that he is expected to sign a $42 million contract. Other players might be purchased with that money. Spending so much money on a closer might be too risky for Philadelphia, regardless of whether it’s a starter, an infielder, or another bullpen arm. particularly if they can acquire an arm like Kirby Yates or Blake Treinen for less money.
