Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Phillies Expected to Get Into Bidding War With Mets at Trade Deadline

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matthew Sullivan | Last updated Jun 12, 2025 3:00 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies are looking for more bullpen help at the MLB trade deadline. As is the case every year, they won't be alone in their pursuit of high-leverage arms out of the bullpen.

In an article from Jim Bowden in The Athletic, Bowden pointed out that the Phillies will target high-leverage relievers at the MLB trade deadline. However, he makes a point to mention they won't be alone, specifically competing with the New York Mets.

"According to industry sources," Bowden writes, "both organizations are focused on high-leverage arms and will be chasing similar relievers."

With the Phillies and Mets both targeting the same relievers, there will be a bidding war for the top options. From Ryan Helsley and Pete Fairbanks to Mason Miller and Felix Bautista, the Phillies and Mets will both be active in the same trade market.

That's bad news for the Phillies, as the competition between the two could lead to an overpay in a trade. With how the Phillies have approached recent trade deadlines, there is a possibility that they overpay to acquire one of their top options.

The Phillies' bullpen has been a mess in 2025. From Jordan Romano sitting in the double-digit ERAs through the first month of the year, to Jose Alvarado getting suspended for 80 games for PED use, the Phillies' bullpen has been shaky.

While relievers like Tanner Banks and Orion Kerkering have shown interesting stuff for the Phillies, neither is trustworthy enough to be a high-leverage arm for the Phillies in the postseason. Matt Strahm and Romano have those roles, and in Alvarado's absence, another reliever is likely to join the fray.

Bowden's report is a sign that the trade deadline could get tricky for the Phillies, as not only will they compete with other teams around baseball, but they'll have to compete with the Mets for a lot of their top targets.

The bidding war that will occur between the Mets and Phillies is a tough situation to be in. While there are plenty of interesting options, a lot of their targets overlap with the Mets' targets.

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

More must-reads: