Philly Leader

PHILADELPHIA -- Manager Rob Thomson has indicated that Carlos Estévez will handle most of the high-leverage ninth-inning situations as the newest addition to the Phillies’ bullpen. However, Thomson refrains from labeling Estévez as the team's closer.

“I’m not going to get backed into that corner,” Thomson stated.

Since taking over as manager in June 2022, Thomson has utilized a strategy of mixing and matching his relievers based on matchups rather than designating a specific closer. This approach has been partly due to its effectiveness and partly because he hasn't had a traditional closer like Mariano Rivera. Craig Kimbrel served as the Phillies' closer for much of the 2023 season, though Thomson avoided using that specific term.

The Phillies acquired Estévez, 31, from the Angels on Saturday in exchange for pitching prospects George Klassen and Samuel Aldegheri. Before Monday’s series opener against the Yankees, Estévez expressed his willingness to pitch in any role.

“However I can put a grain of sand onto this beautiful beach that these guys built, I’m down to whatever, man,” he said.

A designated closer would allow Thomson greater flexibility in deploying other top relievers for advantageous matchups in earlier innings. Thomson mentioned that Estévez might not pitch the ninth inning if there is a significant pocket of left-handed hitters due up.

“That would be the one situation where you’d think about using him in the eighth,” Thomson explained. “It also depends on what lefties we have down there and how well they’re throwing it.”

Estévez posted a 1-3 record with a 2.38 ERA and 20 saves with the Angels, striking out 32 batters and walking five in 34 innings. He has not allowed a run in his last 18 appearances dating back to May 28, permitting only five baserunners over that span.

Estévez’s four-seam fastball averages 96.4 mph with precise control; his walk rate is tied with Phillies left-hander Matt Strahm for the 11th-lowest among relievers with at least 30 innings pitched this season. His walk rate was significantly higher at 11% last season.

“It wasn’t a main focus in the offseason, but hitting is really hard already -- let’s not make it easier for them,” said Estévez regarding his improved control this season. “Let’s just pound the strike zone and see what happens... When you’re trying to make things more complicated, they do get more complicated.”

Estévez will become a free agent after this season, but the Phillies believe he enhances their chances of winning the World Series.

“We looked at some guys with [club] control,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said on Saturday. “It’s interesting being in our room when we had those types of conversations... We wanted the best guy to give us a chance to win this year.”

Dombrowski acknowledged that acquiring Estévez involved giving up significant prospects but suggested there might be an opportunity to re-sign him after the season ends.

The Phillies are still exploring options ahead of Tuesday’s Trade Deadline but are prepared if no additional deals materialize. A source confirmed reports that they have been monitoring White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet's availability but remain cautious about trading top prospects for him.

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