Phils acquire reliever Estévez from Angels for pair of top pitching prospects

PHILADELPHIA -- Everybody knew the Phillies would find at least one late-inning reliever before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline.

They got one of the better ones on Saturday, when they acquired closer Carlos Estévez from the Angels for pitching prospects Samuel Aldegheri (the Phillies’ No. 23 prospect) and George Klassen (No. 28 prospect).

Estévez is 1-3 with a 2.38 ERA and 20 saves with the Angels this season. He has struck out 32 and walked five in 34 innings. He has not surrendered a run in 18 consecutive appearances since May 28, allowing only five baserunners in 18 innings in that stretch.

Estévez is a bona fide closer, but Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski indicated on Friday that any reliever the club might acquire before Tuesday’s Deadline could be used interchangeably with Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, José Alvarado and others, which has been Rob Thomson’s style since he became manager in June 2022.

“I don't think that's been the way we've used our bullpen,” Dombrowski said. “So I wouldn’t just use a closer. I’d see somebody who can pitch innings late in a game that are important innings for us, like our other guys do.”