Phillies & Mets Make Surprise Trade, Latest Rumors on Deal Featuring Brooks Raley at MLB Deadline

Dave Dombrowski is busy in the final hours before the MLB trade deadline, as the Philadelphia Phillies made a deal with the NL East rival New York Mets to add Brooks Raley to their bullpen for the stretch run.

Per The Athletic's Jayson Stark, the Phillies will send minor leaguers Luke Gabrysh and John Spikerman to the Mets in exchange for Raley.

The Phillies were busy on Monday morning because their move for Raley came after they acquired Luis Arráez from the San Francisco Giants.

If there was a team you could have predicted to make at least one trade before the 6 p.m. ET deadline, it would have been the Phillies because Dombrowski is frequently among the most aggressive executives in MLB.

It also helped that the Phillies had clearly-defined needs on their roster to address, including at least one hitter and a late-inning reliever.

Raley helps fulfill the latter category as one of the better left-handed relief pitchers in MLB this season. The 38-year-old had a 1.96 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 41.1 innings with the Mets.

Philadelphia's bullpen comes into play on Monday ranked 24th in MLB with a 4.40 ERA. It's also the highest mark of any team currently in playoff position.

The primarily left-handed relievers for the Phillies this season have been José Alvarado and Tim Mayza. Alvarado has really struggled with a 5.71 ERA in 47 appearances. Mayza has been okay overall, but he has been slumping since the All-Star break with a 4.50 ERA albeit in just eight innings.

New York's return isn't bad for a reliever set to hit free agency this winter. Gabrysh has a 5.14 ERA in High-A, but his 89 strikeouts in 68.1 innings suggest there is something for the development staff to work with.

Spikerman could become a fourth outfielder with his defensive versatility and good eye at the plate, though he doesn't offer much in the way of power. The 23-year-old is a .232/.376/.323 hitter in 111 minor-league games.