The Los Angeles Angels have announced a trade that sends closer Carlos Estévez to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for prospects George Klassen and Samuel Aldegheri, the team announced on Saturday.
Estévez, 31, was in the midst of perhaps his best season as a pro with the Angels in 2024. In 34 innings this season, he had posted a 2.38 ERA, a 0.725 WHIP and 20 saves in 23 opportunities. He has not given up a run since May 21, making it 18 consecutive scoreless outings and innings with no runs allowed and an opponent OPS of .140.
A trade for Estévez had become all but a guarantee over recent weeks, as the Angels began slipping in the standings and established themselves as sellers prior to Tuesday’s trade deadline. Estévez is on an expiring contract and will play out the remainder of his deal with the Phillies, one of the best teams in baseball.
The Phillies had been looking to bolster the back end of their bullpen, as they had been going to Matt Strahm as their closer for much of the year. He blew a save as recently as Wednesday, heightening their need for a legitimate closer as they enter the postseason. The Phillies have the best record in MLB at 64-39.
The Angels, meanwhile, walk away with what is considered a massive haul for their closer, especially when considering that Estévez was an expiring deal. Klassen and Aldegheri represent two of the best pitchers in the Phillies’ farm system.
Klassen was rated by Baseball America as the Phillies No. 5 overall prospect and No. 2 pitching prospect at the start of the 2024 season. He ranked No. 28 via MLB Pipeline. At 22 years old, Klassen has spent the 2024 season with both Class-A Clearwater and High-A Jersey Shore in his first full season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Klassen had a 0.71 ERA in nine starts at Class-A before promoting to High-A. There, he had a 4.22 ERA in five starts, but struck out 32 batters in 21.1 innings with only nine walks. His fastball received a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale, an elite grade.
Aldegheri, 22, entered 2024 as the Phillies No. 7 prospect and top-rated left-hander via Baseball America and No. 23 prospect via MLB Pipeline. He just recently promoted from High-A to Double-A Reading after posting a 3.18 ERA and a whopping 95 strikeouts in 68 innings over 13 starts.
This is the exact type of deal the Angels needed to make to start replenishing their league-worst farm system, and can do more work over the next few days to ensure the rebuild starts strong.
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