The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to be buyers at this year’s Major League Baseball trade deadline on July 31.
The club will likely be searching for bullpen help as they have a 4.67 ERA entering Wednesday. The Phillies will also be without pitcher Jose Alvarado until August and in the postseason due to a PED suspension, meaning they’re in desperate need of a high-leverage arm.
Two names that have emerged as potential trade candidates for the Phillies are Washington Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan and Tampa Bay Rays’ Pete Fairbanks.
So, which one is the better fit in Philadelphia?
The right-hander Finnegan has had a solid six-year career in Washington, but he’s emerged as one of the most effective closers in the game over the last few years.
Finnegan posted a 3.76 ERA and saved 28 games in 2023. In 2024, he was named to his first All-Star team, saving 38 games with a 3.68 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 63.2 innings.
It’s been much of the same for the 33-year-old in 2025, having saved 16 games for the Nationals and pitching to a 2.61 ERA with 18 strikeouts across 20.2 innings. Finnegan isn’t known as a strikeout pitcher and instead induces ground-ball outs, with a career ground-ball rate (GB%) of 46.9, above the league average of 42.4.
