Phillies 'would love' to trade for $22 million Mets reliever with a 2.03 ERA

Phillies ‘would love’ to trade for $22 million Mets reliever with a 2.03 ERA originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to be trade deadline buyers this season, and with only a few weeks to go until the August 3 deadline, their bullpen need has become greater than ever.

Even with Jhoan Duran leading the way, the Phillies really need to add to their bullpen, as Brad Keller is likely done for the season, and they also haven’t been getting good production from their other relievers consistently.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale is reporting that the Phillies, amid such expected interest in a reliever, “would love” to trade for New York Mets right-handed reliever Luke Weaver, who is in the middle of a $22 million deal with a 2.03 ERA this season.

Phillies ‘would love’ to trade for Mets’ Luke Weaver

“They would love to acquire Mets reliever Luke Weaver, but the price tag may be too high,” Nightengale reports.

This trade rumor from Nightengale is an interesting one, as the Phillies and Mets could link up on a deal this summer for some bullpen help.

Weaver, the right-hander who has a 2.03 ERA this season with 1.6 bWAR and 43 strikeouts in 40 innings pitched across 38 appearances, would be one of the better relievers they could trade for.

But, aside from the problem of the Phillies trading with the NL East rival Mets, the price tag for Weaver is going to be very high.

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He’s under contract for the 2027 season thanks to his two-year, $22 million contract. It’s the same deal that Keller got, and the Mets’ addition has clearly been better.

As much as the Phillies might want to add Weaver this summer, realistically, they will have to pivot to some other options in the bullpen.

A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley make more sense for the Phillies as trade targets from the Mets’ bullpen, as they’re rentals who will cost a lot less. Plus, they’re both left-handers, unlike the righty Weaver.

Weaver might be their preferred choice, as the Phillies reportedly would “love” to acquire him. But a trade is likely going to be too difficult to pull off, as the price tag will likely keep the Phillies from swinging such a blockbuster deal this summer.

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