Philadelphia Phillies: 3 ways Dave Dombrowski can win the trade deadline
By Tim Boyle
3) The Philadelphia Phillies can win the trade deadline by making the bullpen a major strength with another piece or two
The Phillies bullpen doesn’t care about their bad reputation. For several years, it has been a major weakness. However, in 2022, they have been pretty reliable even through the early struggles of Corey Knebel.
Along with Knebel, the team has gotten great performances out of Seranthony Dominguez, Brad Hand, and Connor Brogdon. Andrew Bellatti has been good, too. Nick Nelson is shaky but good enough behind the other guys as someone to at least keep the game close.
The Phillies do have two big questions in their bullpen. Between Jose Alvarado and Jeurys Familia, there is a major lack of trust. Each has a tendency to look amazing one night and fail to find the plate the next. The Philadelphia Phillies could do themselves a big favor by moving on from Alvarado specifically and finding another lefty to pair in the bullpen alongside Hand.
As essential as it is to have top-level starting pitching, a bullpen can make or break a team’s fortunes.
You already know that, though. You saw Brad Lidge close out every game he was handed in 2008. You also experienced the last few seasons of Phillies baseball where nobody could be trusted.
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This season doesn’t quite have a “different feel” to it but the big additions of Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber in the offseason did give fans some faith. Dombrowski can reinvigorate that excitement by winning the trade deadline.