MLB trade rumors: 3 teams that should trade for Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel

Philadelphia Phillies can end postseason drought in an up-for-grabs NL East

It has been a decade since the Philadelphia Phillies last played in the postseason. It is the longest active playoff drought in the Senior Circuit at going on 10 years. Only the rudderless Seattle Mariners have watched October baseball at home more often than the Phillies. While a shortened postseason field hurts their chances this year, the Phillies do play in the most winnable division.

The NL East has been deplorably bad through the first two months of the season. The best team has been the New York Mets, while the Phillies and their three other division rivals have played sub-.500 ball throughout. While it may not be the Miami Marlins or the Washington Nationals’ years, Philadelphia has too much talent not to push the Mets and the Atlanta Braves in 2021.

With players like Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen, Aaron Nola and JT Realmuto, the Phillies have the roster and rotation to contend with the best clubs in the National League. What will inevitably serve them is to add a power right arm like Kimbrel to help them shorten games in which they have the lead late. Whether he serves as closer or as a setup man, it should not matter. With the way Kimbrel is pitching, he will be a massive boost to any bullpen he joins in really any role there.

Overall, the Phillies are two games below .500 at 28-30 through their first 58 games. This puts them four games back of the Mets and only half a game back from Atlanta in the divisional race. If Kimbrel can get to Philadelphia and pitch up to his standards, he can be this year’s team’s version of Jonathan Papelbon. Adding this summer Kimbrel helps the Phillies close the gap in the NL East.