August 01, 2025
Kate Frese/Kate Frese for PhillyVoice
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 13: A photo from the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Atlanta Braves on September 13, 2023 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. (Photo by Kate Frese/PhillyVoice)
The Phillies added two players at the trade deadline who will be on the 26-man roster for the rest of the season.
Which means two players had to lose their jobs.
Phillies are optioning Johan Rojas and Daniel Robert to clear roster spots.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) August 1, 2025
Jhoan Duran was acquired first, prior to the trade deadline, in a splashy deal that makes him the first de facto closer for the Phillies in years. He will anchor a bullpen that could have a very different look and feel a few weeks from now. The IL placement for Daniel Robert (a blister) comes as little surprise as he's struggled in the majors with a 5.79 ERA in 9.1 innings pitched.
Harrison Bader's arrival made for more of a difficult choice. Also a former Twin, Bader is expected to play most, but not all, days in either center or right field (he is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game). Fans knew his acquisition meant that either Max Kepler or Johan Rojas would get sent down.
The numbers don't really paint a clear answer, but the $10 million the Phillies are set to pay Kepler this season either way probably also had a role:
| Kepler | Rojas | |
| PA | 351 | 172 |
| Slash | .203/.297/.357 | .224/.280/.289 |
| HR, RBI | 11, 33 | 1, 18 |
| WAR | -0.3 | 0.5 |
| SB | 0 | 12 |
Obviously, the Phillies decided to hang on to Kepler — who would have to pass through waivers — instead of Rojas, who had two remaining options.
It will be interesting to see if Nick Castellanos, Bader, Kepler and Marsh remain the outfield rotation for the rest of the season.
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