Phillies lose another bullpen arm to Royals but there’s no reason to dramatize the impact

Carlos Estévez is off to Kansas City, and while that’s a solid pickup for the Royals, let’s not act like the Phillies’ bullpen is suddenly in crisis mode. The Phillies still have one of the strongest relief units in the league, even after losing Estévez and Jeff Hoffman in free agency.

Estévez, who inked a two-year, $22 million deal with a club option that could push it to three years, $33 million, had a career year in 2024 with a 2.45 ERA between the Angels and Phillies. He was a valuable arm, no doubt, but Philadelphia has more than enough firepower to cover his departure.

Estevez’s deal with the Royals is expected to be for two years and $20 million with a $13 million club option ($2 million buyout), per source. So it’s 2/$22M or 3/$33M if the option is exercised.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) January 30, 2025

The Phillies’ Bullpen is Still a Strength, Anyone Who Says Different Is Being Dramatic

• Matt Strahm is elite and remains one of the most reliable lefties in baseball.
• Orion Kerkering is just getting started—expect him to take another big leap.
• Jordan Romano is a top-tier closer when healthy, and he’s already declared himself 100%.
• Jose Alvarado—yeah, he can be a little wild, but when he’s on, he’s untouchable. And he’s reportedly in the best shape of his life.
• Jose Ruiz, Joe Ross, Tanner Banks—all solid depth arms who will eat up innings and keep things steady.

That’s seven out of eight bullpen spots already set, with just one more opening to fill. The Phillies aren’t scrambling to replace guys—they’re just deciding who gets the last spot.

So How About That Final Spot?

The Phillies already signed Koyo Aoyagi, and he could be the answer. If not, they have plenty of options to round out the group without breaking the bank. And if they need another bullpen arm at the deadline? Fine. That’s how contending teams operate.

So no, the Phillies aren’t in bullpen trouble. Not even close. They’re one move away from locking in another dominant relief corps, and there’s plenty of time to make it happen. The offseason isn’t over yet, but the bullpen is already built to win.

Jose Alvarado looks to be in the ‘best shape of his life’ entering Spring Training

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