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MLB Insider Floats Phillies as a Landing Spot for Rockies’ Star Reliever

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jacob Mountz | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 2:00 PM ET

It’s been a month now since veteran southpaw José Alvarado was suspended for PED use, and the Philadelphia Phillies are still reeling from the loss. Perhaps the loss of Jeff Hoffman in conjunction with the acquisition of Jordan Romano has been responsible for their seemingly endless bullpen woes, but rather than focus on the problem, it’s past time to focus on the solution.

In an article on MLB.com, MLB insider Mark Feinsand might have suggested the perfect reliever to solve the Phillies’ biggest problem. When discussing prime trade candidates and their potential suitors, Feinsand linked the Phillies to Colorado Rockies’ breakout star Jake Bird. He had this to write about Bird:

“The Rockies should try to sell any player who draws interest, but the club doesn’t have many attractive pieces to shop. Bird is one of the exceptions; the 29-year-old has a 2.23 ERA in 40 1/3 innings and comes with three additional years of club control.”

Bird is probably the most intriguing name on the relief market this season. Despite the notable disadvantage of playing in hitter-friendly Colorado, Bird has been one of the best relievers in the game. With his stats and years of control, there isn’t a team in baseball where he wouldn’t be a perfect fit. If the Phillies have a shot at Bird, they should grab him as quickly as possible.

However, the emphasis here is on the ‘if.’ Colorado doesn’t usually deal their best players. It would make perfect sense for them to trade Bird for the best package they could get, but even in times of severe underperformance, the Rockies usually avoid the trade market.

This archaic Colorado tradition has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the relief market. Still, it never hurts to call.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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