If the Phillies trade closer Jonathan Papelbon before the looming trade deadline they might have the luxury of replacing him from within. Reliever Ken Giles is putting his name out there as the guy to step into the closer role, per the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Giles said the closer role is a big task, but one that he is ready for might the opportunity present itself.
"Everyone knows who you are when you come into that ninth inning because you're the one that ends the game," Giles said Saturday. "You're the one that brings the fire. You have the starters that start the fire and you just finish it. You put that extra little fuel on it to finish the game off."
Giles said he's taking it "one day at a time," given that Papelbon could just as likely stay with the team.
"But do I feel like I could do it? Absolutely," Giles said.