Even by Dave Dombrowski’s standards, this trade may sting for Philadelphia Phillies fans for some time.
Just days before the 2024 trade deadline, on July 27, the Phillies shipped two minor league pitchers—left-hander Sam Aldegheri (ranked No. 24 prospect in Philadelphia’s system) and right-hander George Klassen (No. 29 prospect)—to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for closer Carlos Estevez.
Many in baseball circles viewed the price as steep for a reliever who was only in his second full season as a closer. But, as Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic pointed out, this kind of aggressive move is typical of Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations.
“Dombrowski chases the best major leaguers. And if he needs to trade quality prospects to get them, so be it,” Rosenthal wrote.
“’Every seller in America wants to deal with Dave,’ said one rival executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity to be candid.”
The trade exemplifies Dombrowski’s win-now approach, prioritizing proven major league talent even if it means sacrificing promising young arms in the process. For Phillies fans, the gamble will be judged on Estevez’s impact down the stretch and beyond.
Carlos Estevez Trade Included George Klassen, Angels’ ‘Most Pleasant Surprise’
Carlos Estevez delivered solid performances for the Phillies after the trade. Over 20 games and 21 innings to close out the regular season, he went 3-2 with a 2.57 ERA, converting six saves in eight chances while striking out 18 batters and walking seven. In the postseason, Estevez appeared three times, allowing just two hits and two runs (one earned) across 2.2 innings.
However, Estevez departed as a free agent after the season, signing with the Kansas City Royals. There, he’s continued his strong form, boasting a 1.96 ERA with 14 saves in 16 opportunities.
On the other side, the prospects sent to the Angels have had mixed results. Left-hander Sam Aldegheri, now the Angels’ No. 5 prospect, has struggled at Double-A Rocket City, posting a 4.81 ERA across eight starts. He’s allowed 42 hits and 25 walks in 43 innings, resulting in a WHIP of 1.56, which points to inconsistency and control issues.
Right-hander George Klassen, however, could turn out to be the real “diamond in the rough” for the Angels—and possibly the player the Phillies regret losing. MLB.com analysts Jonathan Mayo, Jim Callis, and Sam Dykstra highlighted Klassen in their May 21 feature on “Each club’s most pleasant prospect surprise.”
Klassen, Philadelphia’s former No. 3 prospect before the trade, impressed with his development, particularly his improved control. As the article notes:
“(I)n many ways, the right-hander was a surprise development last year when he jumped on the scene with the Phillies before being sent to the Angels near the Trade Deadline, finishing with a 3.10 ERA, 13.1 K/9 rate and .195 BAA.”
“What’s been fun to see this year as he was starting to settle in at Double-A is how often he’s found the strike zone. Klassen walked 8.5 per nine in college, 4.5/9 in 2024 and is down to 2.2 this year while still missing plenty of bats.”
This progression in command and strikeout ability could make Klassen a significant asset for the Angels, and a potential “what if” for Phillies fans reflecting on the trade.
George Klassen Making Strong Case for Inclusion in Top-100 Prospects List
The 23-year-old George Klassen is currently sidelined with a concussion after being hit in the head by a line drive during his May 11 start. However, before the injury, Klassen was garnering significant attention for his pitching prowess.
Baseball America’s Geoff Pontes recently highlighted Klassen’s impressive potential, suggesting he was on the cusp of breaking into the top 100 prospect lists. Pontes noted:
“Over seven starts, Klassen has pitched to just a 4.97 ERA, but it’s backed by a 3.08 FIP and 2.58 xFIP.”
He praised Klassen’s electric arsenal, explaining:
“His stuff remains jaw-dropping, as he sits 96-97 mph on his fastball and touches 99 at peak. While the heater doesn’t feature tremendous ride, Klassen’s 14 inches of average armside run make up for the lack of traditional four-seam movement.
“His primary secondary is a low-90s gyro slider that has generated whiffs at a rate of 45% in 2025. He also mixes a curveball in the mid-80s featuring a slurvy shape that he deploys as his primary weapon against left-handed batters.”
Pontes summarized Klassen as:
“A mix of premium stuff and improving execution, making Klassen one of the more exciting names outside the Top 100 list.”
For Phillies fans, this development is a tough pill to swallow—watching a talented former prospect like Klassen flourish in another team’s uniform only highlights what they may have lost in the trade.
Leave a Reply