Phillies Feeling Sting of Trading Away Rising Prospect George Klassen
Even by Dave Dombrowski’s bold standards, this trade might come back to haunt the Philadelphia Phillies.
Just before the 2024 trade deadline, the Phillies sent pitching prospects Sam Aldegheri (then ranked No. 24 in the organization) and George Klassen (No. 29) to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for reliever Carlos Estevez. Many observers felt the Phillies gave up a lot for a relatively unproven closer, a sentiment echoed by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
“Dombrowski targets impact big leaguers, and he’s willing to deal talented prospects to get them,” Rosenthal noted. One rival executive even quipped, “Every seller in America wants to deal with Dave.”
Estevez Solid, But Short-Term
Estevez delivered solid results in his brief stint with the Phillies—posting a 2.57 ERA over 21 innings with six saves and striking out 18. However, he left for Kansas City in free agency after the season, where he’s continued to shine with a 1.96 ERA and 14 saves.
Klassen Emerging as a Potential Star
Meanwhile, the Phillies may be regretting letting George Klassen go. While Aldegheri has struggled in Double-A (4.81 ERA, 1.56 WHIP), Klassen has emerged as a breakout prospect in the Angels system.
In a recent MLB.com piece highlighting each team’s biggest prospect surprise, analysts praised Klassen’s improved command. Once wild in college (8.5 walks per nine), Klassen has cut that number to just 2.2 this season while continuing to rack up strikeouts. Last year, he posted a 3.10 ERA with 13.1 K/9 and a .195 opponent batting average.
Top-100 Buzz Despite Injury
Though currently sidelined with a concussion after a line drive hit him in the head on May 11, Klassen’s performance had already turned heads. Baseball America’s Geoff Pontes noted that despite a 4.97 ERA, Klassen’s advanced metrics (3.08 FIP, 2.58 xFIP) show much better underlying performance.
His fastball touches 99 mph with elite arm-side run, and his slider—thrown in the low 90s—boasts a 45% whiff rate. He also mixes in a deceptive curveball to attack lefties.
A Missed Opportunity
Klassen is now the Angels’ No. 3 prospect and pushing toward top-100 status league-wide. His combination of raw stuff and improved control makes him one of the most exciting young pitchers outside the national spotlight—and a painful reminder of what the Phillies may have given up too soon.
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