PHILADELPHIA— At the 2024 Major League Baseball trade deadline, the Philadelphia Phillies reportedly had an interest in right-handed relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan.
The Washington Nationals closer was in the midst of another strong season, and many felt that the Nationals could potentially trade Finnegan. With their team not in the playoff hunt, it was natural to assume they would be sellers.
DC did end up making moves. They shipped out players like Jessie Winker (Mets), Dylan Floro (Diamondbacks), and Lane Thomas (Guardians) for minor-league prospects. Kyle remained with the Nats, but since he was under team control, it wasn’t far-fetched to see him retained.
Friday evening was the deadline for big league clubs to tender contracts to players under team control. If the team no longer wants a player, they simply release them into free agency. That was the case with Kyle Finnegan, who shockingly was let go by the Nationals. With holes in their bullpen, it would make sense to see the Phillies pursue the 2024 All-Star.
Finnegan to the Phillies?
If the Phillies had interest in Kyle Finnegan at the trade deadline, they should have interest now. Instead of giving up talented prospects to their division rival, the only cost for the right-handed reliever is money.
In 2024, Kyle Finnegan appeared in 65 games for Washington. In those games, he pitched in 63.2 innings, earning 38 saves in 43 opportunities. He struck out 60 batters while walking 24. Kyle was a late bloomer, debuting at 28 years old in the 2020 season. Since getting an opportunity, he has made the most of it. He has the 11th most saves in baseball since 2020, which is impressive considering the Nationals have not won more than 71 games in a season during his tenure. In that same span, he has pitched the fourth most innings among relief pitchers.
While he might not be the lockdown closer that fans want, Finnegan would be a solid addition to the Phillies bullpen. Rob Thomson typically has not committed to the traditional closer role in his time with the Phillies. Craig Kimbrel had the longest run as a dedicated closer, but that assignment became the team’s undoing during the 2023 NLCS. I would expect the team to shy away from naming a closer in 2025 unless someone stands out. Kyle Finnegan has experience closing games, and regardless of team philosophy, this is a trait any reliever would like to have.
Options for the Phillies
Jeff Hoffman should be Philadelphia’s top target when it comes to signing a relief pitcher this off-season. Hoffman shined in his time with the club and has grown into this role with the Phillies. It is the one place he has had the most success in his big league career.
If Jeff ultimately parted ways and signed with another franchise, there would be plenty of other options for the team. As mentioned, Carlos Estevez could be a player they bring back in 2025. Kyle Finnegan can fill a need for the Phillies and work with the established members of the bullpen.
Other free agent options the team could take a chance include Tanner Scott (Marlins/Padres), Clay Holmes (Yankees), Jose Leclerc (Rangers), and many others. If they continued to monitor the trade market, Ryan Helsey (Cardinals), Mason Miller (A’s), and David Bednar (Pirates) are all logical options as well.
Regardless of the direction they take, the Phillies bullpen will need to be revamped. They were one of the best in 2024 before collapsing in the NLDS against the New York Mets. Kyle Finnegan is now an option, and it will be interesting to see if the Phillies add him to their roster for 2025 and beyond.
Photo Credit: Alec Kostival (X/Twitter @KostivalOnBase)
