Breaking-News: Phillies Let This All-Star Walk — Now He’s Dominating, and Fans Are Furious

June 17, 2025 Admin Uncategorized 0

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The Philadelphia Phillies had a fairly quiet offseason, but the players they didn’t bring back ended up generating the most buzz among fans. Much of the criticism has centered around the club’s decision not to re-sign Jeff Hoffman after his breakout season. However, another former Phillies reliever is turning heads in 2025 — and it’s not Hoffman.

Carlos Estévez, who left Philadelphia in free agency, signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Kansas City Royals, with a third-year option. And so far, he’s been lights out. Entering Saturday’s games, the 32-year-old owns a 2-1 record, a 1.82 ERA, and leads the American League with 19 saves. He’s trending toward a career-best season and appears poised to earn his second All-Star selection. On June 5, he also reached a milestone, recording his 100th career save — most of which have come in the past three seasons.

Estévez originally joined the Phillies last July in a trade with the Angels, who received pitching prospects Samuel Aldegheri and George Klassen in return. Estévez delivered solid performances out of the bullpen down the stretch, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.57 ERA and six saves across 20 appearances. While reliable overall, some fans remember him more for giving up a critical home run to Francisco Lindor in the NLDS, which stalled the Phillies’ comeback hopes. Still, his postseason ERA stood at a respectable 3.38.

Carlos Estévez's stock is rising - The Good Phight

Carlos Estévez

Now, as Estévez thrives in Kansas City, many in Philadelphia are wondering why he wasn’t re-signed. Both sides had shown mutual interest during the offseason, but a deal never materialized, ending his short tenure with the team.

With José Alvarado suspended and relievers like Jordan Romano, Matt Strahm, and ex-Royal Carlos Hernández all struggling (the latter recently designated for assignment), the Phillies’ bullpen has been shaky. Letting Estévez walk — especially after trading away two top prospects to acquire him — is starting to look like a major misstep.

Since the trade, both Klassen and Aldegheri have emerged as key arms in the Angels’ system, with Aldegheri even making his MLB debut and earning a win last season. Meanwhile, the Phillies have little to show for the deal, and their bullpen ranks 23rd in ERA at 4.48.

In hindsight, it’s easy to see the problem — but many fans are left questioning whether letting Estévez walk was a costly mistake.

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