Blockbuster Phillies trade proposal lands two-time All-Star in one-for-one swap

•

The Philadelphia Phillies won’t be running it back.

After a disappointing playoff exit in 2024, the team will be undergoing some roster tweaks around its core of veteran superstars in hopes of making a championship run next season.

That could mean any number of significant moves. But one of the biggest areas of change is likely to be the bullpen. All-Star setup man Jeff Hoffman and trade deadline acquisition Carlos Estévez are both free agents and the Phillies are unlikely to bring both of them back on new contracts.

Instead, Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer has proposed a blockbuster offseason trade that would bring 2023 Reliever of the Year Award winner Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers to Philadelphia in exchange for second baseman Bryson Stott.

“The Phillies’ bullpen wasn’t necessarily a weakness in 2024, but it wasn’t exactly ironclad either,” Rymer noted. “Therefore, the Phillies figure to be in the market for a closer this winter, and Williams sure matches the description of the type of player preferred by president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowksi: a star.”

In six big-league seasons with the Brewers, Williams has a 1.83 ERA with 68 saves in 97 games finished. He’s earned a Rookie of the Year Award and two All-Star nods, as well as votes for the Most Valuable Player Award. He is projected to earn $8.4 million in his final year of arbitration before becoming a free agent, making him a potential trade candidate.

But after missing the start of the 2024 season with a shoulder injury, he was shaky in the Brewers’ 2024 postseason run. He had a 21.60 ERA and gave up four earned runs in just 1.2 innings against the New York Mets.

Still, Williams has been highly effective in many high-leverage situations and if the Phillies believe he can maintain his shutdown stuff in a deep playoff run, he could be a worthy addition. Even if it means giving up their everyday second baseman.

“Though Alec Bohm is the more obvious trade chip, Stott also has an uncertain spot in the Phillies’ long-term plans,” Rymer added. “That wouldn’t be the case if he were moved to Milwaukee, where another infielder is needed to account for Willy Adames’ likely departure as a free agent.”

More MLB: Cubs predicted to land two-time All-Star with six-year, $156 million deal

Peter Chawaga

Peter Chawaga is a veteran journalist covering Major League Baseball for The Sporting News. His MLB reporting has included feature interviews with commissioner Rob Manfred and Hall of Fame slugger David Ortiz, salary analysis, player rankings and more. He has covered baseball for Forbes, Yardbarker, Pitcher List, Athlon and other outlets.

With over ten years of newsroom experience, he has previously covered finance, technology, arts, and culture for newspapers, magazines, and websites nationwide. He graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in English and journalism.