The Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks pulled off a quietly interesting trade that could shake up both teams’ 2025 plans. Philadelphia picks up left-handed reliever Kyle Backhus to bolster a bullpen in transition.
Arizona grabs speedy outfielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu and frees up a valuable 40-man roster spot. That opening lets them finalize their deal with veteran starter Merrill Kelly. It’s the kind of winter move that might look a lot more important in a year or two.
Phillies Add Kyle Backhus to Reload Their Left-Handed Relief Corps
The Phillies are trying to rebuild the back end of a bullpen that just lost key lefty Matt Strahm in a trade with the Royals. With José Alvarado now the main guy from the left side, the front office needed cheaper depth and more flexibility for late-inning matchups.
Kyle Backhus is a 27-year-old lefty who made his MLB debut with Arizona in 2024. He logged 32 relief appearances and put up a 4.62 ERA. Those numbers aren’t flashy, but there’s more to the story.
Backhus pitched in some pretty big spots. He collected two saves, 10 holds, and even shut the door for a one-out save in mid-September with the bases loaded. That’s not nothing—he handled the pressure and started to earn his stripes in the majors.
Backhus’ Arsenal, Profile, and Bullpen Fit in Philadelphia
He’s not your run-of-the-mill lefty reliever. Backhus went undrafted in 2021 but pitched his way onto the radar with strong strikeout rates in the minors. In 2022, he posted a wild 34.5% strikeout rate.
His game is built around a sinker from an unusually low arm slot—one of the lowest release angles in the league. He’s in the 96th percentile for extension, so hitters see the ball late and from a funky angle.
Oddly, that delivery hasn’t turned him into a ground-ball machine. Backhus managed just a 37.8% ground-ball rate in 2024 and gave up a fair bit of pull-side air contact. That’s not ideal for a reliever who lives in the strike zone.
Still, you can bet Philadelphia’s analytics team sees a project here. Maybe with some tweaks to his pitch shapes or usage, they’ll unlock more weak contact and tailor his approach to fit their defense and ballpark.
Injuries limited him to 35 2/3 innings in 2024. But he finished the year strong, earned a call-up with a good run at Triple-A Reno, and flashed some of that swing-and-miss upside that made him a late-blooming bullpen option in Arizona.
How Backhus Reshapes the Phillies’ Lefty Hierarchy
With Strahm out, the Phillies needed more than just a standard lefty for the middle innings. They wanted someone who could bridge the gap from the fifth or sixth to the late innings, depending on matchups.
Backhus now slots behind Alvarado and alongside Tanner Banks. That gives manager Rob Thomson a few different southpaw options for tough spots.
Philadelphia will probably try Backhus in:
If his minor league strikeout stuff comes back with better command, Backhus could become a real seventh- or even eighth-inning option. That’s a pretty nice upside for a team thinking about October.
The 40-Man Roster Picture in Philadelphia
The Phillies’ 40-man roster sits at 38 players right now. That leaves them some wiggle room for another bullpen piece, a depth starter, or a bench bat without needing to make a quick cut.
Diamondbacks Clear Space and Add Speed with Avery Owusu-Asiedu
For Arizona, this move is as much about roster management as it is about the players themselves. Trading Backhus opens up a much-needed 40-man roster spot so they can finalize things with Merrill Kelly, who’s a key piece for their rotation.
They get Avery Owusu-Asiedu in return—a 22-year-old minor league outfielder known for his speed, versatility, and improving plate discipline. Last season, over 107 games, he:
Arizona loves athleticism and versatility, and Owusu-Asiedu fits right in. He doesn’t have to be a star; if he keeps cutting the strikeouts and gets on base, his speed and glove could make him a handy fourth outfielder or a late-game weapon pretty soon.
A Classic Win-Win Depth Move
At first glance, this trade looks pretty modest. One team sends a left-handed reliever with some question marks; the other sends back a speedy, developing outfielder.
Honestly, it’s the kind of move solid organizations pull off all the time. They swap surplus for what they actually need, always thinking about how to keep their roster flexible.
The Phillies see Backhus as a shot at some upside and deception in a bullpen that’s craving new left-handed options. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks get Owusu-Asiedu, another athletic outfield piece, and open up a spot for Merrill Kelly—who, let’s be real, will show up every fifth day and make a difference.
In a winter full of splashy headlines, this one probably won’t make much noise. Still, it’s worth tucking away in your memory. When the season drags on, it might mean more than anyone expects.
Here is the source article for this story: Phillies Acquire Kyle Backhus
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