Deadline Rumors: Phillies connected to reliever Ryan Helsley

Keep track of all the latest trade deadline rumors pertaining to the Phillies on Phillies Nation.

Tuesday, July 29, at 11:19 a.m. ET: Feinsand: Phillies connected to reliever Ryan Helsley

At least “a half-dozen teams” are interested in reliever Ryan Helsley, and the Phillies are one of them, according to Mark Feisand of MLB.com. Feinsand described the Cardinals right-hander as “one of the most popular trade targets” ahead of Thursday’s deadline, listing the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Rangers and Blue Jays as other potential clubs that could acquire him. Feinsand later reported that the Blue Jays could still be suitors for Helsley, even after making a trade with the Orioles for former Phillies reliever Seranthony Domínguez.

Helsley, 31, has a 3.00 ERA in 36 appearances with 21 saves. He hasn’t been quite as dominant as in his previous three excellent seasons in St. Louis, but he’s still had a productive year. Helsley is in his final season under team control, so he’d be a rental for any club that trades for him. But it’s easy to see why the hard-throwing righty would be attractive. If the Phillies were to go get him, he’d give them a certified closer at the back end of their questionable bullpen.  — Ty Daubert

Thursday, July 24, at 7:23 p.m. ET: Heyman: Phillies love Kwan, Royals “might consider” Nick Castellanos if available 

Jon Heyman of the New York Post in his latest notes column connected the Phillies to Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan. Kwan, 27, is batting .287 with a .762 OPS. Cleveland is at .500 and are three games out of the last Wild Card spot in the American League. Kwan is under team control through 2027. 

Heyman also added that the Kansas City Royals are looking for an outfielder who can hit and that they “might consider Nick Castellanos, if available.” 

Castellanos, a perpetual trade candidate, is batting .269 with a .742 OPS. The Phillies need to add, not subtract from the offense. Moving on from Castellanos would require the Phillies to make an even bigger move to replace his bat in the middle of the lineup.

Castellanos is under contract through 2026. — Destiny Lugardo

Monday, July 21, at 6:59 p.m. ET: Rosenthal: A’s might be willing to change their stance on trading star closer Mason Miller. 

Star closer Mason Miller was virtually untouchable during the 2024 trade deadline. Could the A’s stance change this time around? It’s possible, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. 

The way the A’s see it, only a few teams are bold enough to propose an offer for Miller worthy of consideration. General manager David Forst might engage those teams as the deadline nears. But for now, he appears willing to let them grow more desperate. 

Which teams might tempt the A’s? The Philadelphia Phillies, who reached agreement Sunday with free-agent reliever David Robertson, probably would be No. 1 on the list.

Rosenthal goes on to list the Dodgers, Yankees, Padres and Mariners as potential suitors. 

Miller, 26, has a 4.04 ERA in 35 games this season. Since giving up four runs in the first two games against the Phillies in May, Miller has a 2.00 ERA. He has struck out 40.1% of the batters he has faced.

Miller is under team control through 2029. — Destiny Lugardo