The Phillies have reportedly agreed to acquire left-hander Brooks Raley in a trade with the Mets. Going the other way will be prospects Luke Gabrysh and John Spikerman. The Phils will need to open 40-man spots for Raley as well as Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian, who were acquired in a separate deal with the Giants.

Raley, 38, is a veteran lefty. Despite his age and a recent Tommy John surgery, he remains a very effective big league reliever. He returned from his surgery recovery in July of last year. In the year-plus that he has been back on the mound, he has given the Mets 67 innings, allowing just 2.15 earned runs per nine. He has received some help from a .239 batting average on balls in play and 75.9% strand rate but his 24.2% strikeout rate and 7.8% walk rate are strong figures. His 2.72 FIP and 3.59 SIERA in that span suggest he would be getting good results even with more neutral luck.

It’s also possible he has the ability to outperform his expected stats as he does a good job of avoiding damage. Statcast puts this year’s average exit velocity, hard hit rate and barrel rate all in the 86th percentile or better. Perhaps it’s because of his low arm slot, but for whatever reason, hitters don’t seem to square him up well.

Raley has been one of the most likely trade candidates of this deadline. That’s due to his aforementioned success but also because he’s playing for a Mets team that is having a disappointing season and leaning into sell mode. They have already traded A.J. Minter, Freddy Peralta, Huascar Brazobán and now Raley. There is surely more to come.

The Phils have had a disappointing relief group this year. Collectively, they have a 4.40 earned run average, which is better than only six teams in the majors. Their big offseason move was to sign Brad Keller but he required Tommy John surgery and is done for the year. Lou Trivino and Tanner Banks are also on the IL.

José Alvarado was supposed to be the top lefty option but he’s having a bad season, with a 5.71 ERA. That appears to be mostly bad luck, as his 28% strikeout rate and 7.9% walk rate are both good figures. He has been undercut by a .382 BABIP and 65.7% strand rate. Still, it makes sense for the Phillies to add another lefty arm alongside Alvarado, Tim Mayza and Kyle Backhus.

Turning to the financials, Raley is making a $4.75MM salary this year. There is about $1.4MM left to be paid out, though there are also some bonuses in there based on games pitched. He has already unlocked an extra $750K, with $250K bonuses for 35, 40 and 45 games pitched. He could get another $250K at 50, 55, 60 and 65 games. The Phillies are three-time payors of the competitive balance tax and they are above the top threshold of the CBT, so they pay a 110% rate on any new money they take on.

That doesn’t seem to be much of an impediment for them. They have been trying to win for years with their core of Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto and others. The Phils have spent a lot of money to put together that core and build around it. They’re not going to stop now while the window is still open. They are barely holding onto a playoff spot at the moment but are clearly making a number of moves to strengthen the club for the stretch run.

In addition to the financial cost, they are also parting with a couple of prospects, and sending them to a division rival no less. The Mets, meanwhile, make the logical choice to turn in a 38-year-old reliever for younger and controllable players during a losing season.

Gabrysh, 23, was a 15th-round pick in 2024 who signed for a modest $100K bonus. The right-hander has been pitching in High-A this year, posting a 5.14 ERA in 68 1/3 innings. He doesn’t show up on lists of the top prospects in the Phillies’ system, so he seems to be a lottery ticket for the Mets.

Spikerman, 23, appears to be the greater get for them. A third-round pick from 2024 who signed a $672.5K bonus, he is a switch-hitting outfielder. MLB Pipeline lists him 27th in the Philly system. He doesn’t hit for a lot of power, or any power. He hit three home runs last year and doesn’t have any so far this year. But he does draw a lot of walks and has a speed-and-defense profile. He has spent most of this year at High-A, drawing free passes in 19.5% of his plate appearances while swiping 18 bags in just 30 games. He’s a long-term project but his athleticism theoretically gives him a decent floor.

The Phils might have more up their sleeves after this. They still need help in the outfield, unless they plan to move Harper or Bryson Stott out there. They could get more arms. Perhaps Alec Bohm is expendable with the Arraez trade. The Mets still have more selling to do, as Luis Robert Jr. and Tyrone Taylor should go. Luke Weaver, Sean Manaea, Brett Baty and others could also be sent out.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale first reported the deal was being finalized and The Athletic’s Will Sammon added that there was a deal in place. Jayson Stark of The Athletic relayed the names going to the Mets. Photos courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Wendell Cruz, Imagn Images