Angels trade closer Estevez to Phillies

ANAHEIM, Calif.— The Angels traded closer Carlos Estevez to the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday in exchange for two minor-league pitching prospects.

George Klassen and Samuel Aldegheri were dealt to the Angels, who gave up the 31-year-old Estevez pitching in the final year of his contract. 

Estevez has 20 saves in 23 opportunities with a 2.38 ERA and a 6.40 strikeout to walk ratio. Estevez was widely considered to be one of the top relief pitchers available at the trade deadline along with Tanner Scott of the Miami Marlins.

“I’m glad that if I’m going to another place, it’s a place where I can get a shot to get a ring," Estevez said. "It feels amazing. I’m excited.”

Estevez signed with the Angels as a free agent prior to the 2023 season. He had 51 saves during his tenure as an Angel and had 110 strikeouts in 96.1 innings. 

What will he remember about his time with the Angels?

“The fans, the guys, even the media has been really good to me," Estevez said. "My teammates, day in and day out they always show up, doesn’t matter what it is, they’ve always had our backs here.”

Estevez has been a clubhouse leader for the Angels and mentioned he had conversations with his former teammates after the trade announcement Saturday. 

"I'm leaving but it's not like you can never reach out to me. 'We are brothers man. Whatever you need just shoot me a text, call me,'" Estevez said he told Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe. "I know he knew it but just a reminder. This game is hard, sometimes we make it harder."

The Angels are expected to eventually turn to flame-thrower Ben Joyce to take over closing duties. Estevez said he had a talk with Joyce before leaving. 

"I told him, 'right now you don't need to change anything. You are nasty, you don't need to do anything else. Just throw strikes, attack the strike zone, make them hit the baseball. You're going to be fine,'" Estevez said. 

Angels manager Ron Washington was asked after the game about his reaction to the trade.

"He gets a chance to go to a place where he has a chance to win a World Series," Washington said. "Philadelphia is a very good team. Those guys are hungry, they get after it. He gets after it so he'll fit in just perfect"

Estevez is a free agent this offseason and didn't rule out a possible return to the Angels someday.

“I talked to (Ron Washington), talked to Perry (Minasian) and they told me it’s most likely a ‘see you later,’ but this game, things happen. Let’s see how it plays out.”

Klassen, 22, was rated the No. 2 pitching prospect in the Phillies organization by Baseball America. He was named Florida State League Pitcher of the Month in April and has a 1.97 ERA in 59.1 innings across two minor league levels this season.

He was a sixth round pick in the 2023 draft out of the University of Minnesota. Klassen has made nine starts for Single-A Clearwater and five starts for High-A Jersey Shore. 

Baseball America had Klassen ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the Phillies organization in the publication's midseason rankings. He's a riser who was considered a project out of the draft but had stuff that was too good to ignore. 

Klassen is expected to be at least a top five prospect in the Angels organization and has the potential to crack the top 100 prospects in MLB list.

Aldegheri, 22, was the top-rated left-handed pitching prospect in the Phillies organization. He has 109 strikeouts in 78 innings with a 3.23 ERA across two minor league levels this season. 

He was a member of the Phillies' 2019 International class that was highly-regarded. Aldegheri has pitched for High-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Reading this season. 

In it's recently updated midseason rankings, Baseball America ranked Aldegheri as the No. 7 prospect in the Phillies organization. He is expected to be a top 10 prospect in the Angels organization.