The Philadelphia Phillies got their closer back and shuffled the bullpen deck on Tuesday, activating Jhoan Duran from the 15-day injured list and sending right-hander Trevor Richards to the Chicago White Sox for cash considerations. Duran, sidelined with a strained left oblique, last pitched on April 11 and jumps right back into the ninth-inning picture as the club opens a homestand on a modest winning roll.
Closer Returns, Roster Move Confirmed
Duran returns carrying a 1.35 ERA and five saves in 6 2/3 innings before the injury, according to The Associated Press. RotoWire, citing reporting tied to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, notes that Duran did not need a rehab assignment and is expected to step right back into the closer role.
White Sox Acquire Richards For Cash
The Phillies traded Trevor Richards to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for cash considerations, per MLB Trade Rumors. MLB Trade Rumors reports that Chicago opened a 40-man roster spot by transferring Drew Thorpe to the 60-day injured list and that Richards allowed one earned run over 4 1/3 innings for Philadelphia after putting up dominant numbers at Triple A earlier in the season.
Mattingly Era And The Bullpen Shuffle
The moves land as Don Mattingly’s interim stint continues to track with a brief hot stretch. The Phillies had won six of seven games heading into Tuesday, according to CBS Philadelphia. With Duran back in the ninth, Mattingly can lean on a more traditional setup, sliding Brad Keller and other relievers into higher-leverage bridge roles, a shift highlighted by local beat coverage via RotoWire.
Duran’s return clearly tightens the late innings, but the club still needs depth while other relievers work through their own injuries, with the pitcher’s MLB biography and team transaction notes outlining the injured list stint and corresponding roster moves. For full transaction details and additional local reporting, see MLB.com and 6abc.
