Despite a paucity of roster transactions this offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies are still being touted as a destination for potential free agents and a trade partner for specific players. The Milwaukee Brewers recently dealt Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles, shortly after signing former Phillies Rhys Hoskins.
Milwaukee may be rebuilding, as two of its better players, shortstop Willy Adames and closer Devin Williams, have been referenced in trade speculations.
Rumors suggest that the Philadelphia Phillies are interested in Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. Philadelphia is also considered a destination for Milwaukee’s closer. José Alvarado, Philadelphia’s current closer, is expected to have some experience but only 45 save opportunities in seven years in the majors. Another option is reliever Gregory Soto, who has 62 save opportunities throughout his five-year career, 52 of which came in two seasons with the Detroit Tigers.
Williams converted 15 of 17 save opportunities in 2022, after making 36 of 40 with the Brewers prior season. He concluded the season with a 1.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a 37.7% strikeout rate. If he is acquired, the Phillies will have another option to close games if manager Rob Thomson prefers to employ Alvarado and Soto in the seventh or eighth innings.
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The Milwaukee closer is also a right-handed pitcher, as opposed to Soto and Alvarado, who are both left-handed, providing Philly with options who can pitch both left and right. If the Brewers are seeking for prospects, who among the Phillies might be interested in a trade for Williams?
Who could the Phillies offer in a trade package for Devin Williams?
Teams have expressed interest in two young Phillies prospects: shortstop Bryan Rincon (No. 28 in 2023) and catcher Eduardo Tait (No. 23). It may not be in their best interests to trade either young talent if other teams have showed interest in acquiring them. However, in the instance of Rincon, Philadelphia signed Trea Turner to a long-term contract last summer and may not have an opening at shortstop when he is ready to make his major league debut.
Tait is a different story, even though catcher Caleb Ricketts is ahead of him in the minor league system. J.T. Realmuto will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2025 season. The Phillies will most likely have an opening at the position. The 17-year-old Panamanian will not be ready for promotion to the majors for at least five years. However, the young catcher could be a spectacular player for the Phillies, so they should avoid trading him.
So, in a deal for Williams, the Phillies could offer the following prospects:
Phillies receive: RHP Devin Williams
Brewers receive: RHP Griff McGarry (No. 5), OF Devin Saltiban (No. 18), SS Bryan Rincon (No. 28)
The Phillies would be receiving a two-time (2020, 2023) NL Reliever of the Year Award winner and a potential closer. While McGarry is a top-five prospect in Philadelphia’s minor league system, Philly would need to part with one of its top prospects presuming (No. 1-4) Andrew Painter, Mick Abel, Justin Crawford, and Aidan Miller are untouchable, as they all should be.
Saltiban, an 18-year-old outfielder, made his minor-league debut last year. Rincon appears to be talented, but the Phillies do not have room in the majors for a shortstop as long as Turner is around, which will be for at least the next five to seven years. With Williams, Philadelphia adds a reliever who might help the team win the World Series in 2024.
