It appears the Phillies are the leading candidate in landing Colorado Rockies’ closer Brian Fuentes in a trade before the July 31st deadline.

Despite the Rockies still believing that they can contend for a playoff spot in 2008, they are willing to trade their closer for the right price because he is in his contract season and they are hoping to return Manny Corpas to that role.

Corpas was the team’s closer in the playoffs last season but has struggled mightily in 2008. Fuentes, on the other hand, has been dominant.

Following weekend play, Fuentes has an ERA of 2.05 in 33 games, a 1-2 record, 13 saves in 16 chances, has allowed only 1 home run and has struck out 27 hitters.

Fuentes is a lefty (the Phillies need another lefty in the ‘pen to compliment J.C. Romero) and he has not allowed an extra-base hit to lefty hitters in 2008. Fuentes is also sitting on 98 career saves.

The other teams believed to be in the running with the Phillies are the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox and A’s.

How are the Phillies in the forefront you ask? They have been reported to be offering 22 year-old lefty Fabio Castro in the deal for Fuentes. It makes sense. To get an experienced lefty you have to give a talented, young, lefty prospect up.

Castro, in his brief time in the Majors, has shown control issues but he has also shown glimpses of promise. It is hard to say whether or not Castro can become a dominant lefty set-up man in the Majors so if the Phillies have to deal him, then deal him.

This whole Fuentes experiment could be just for the remainder of the season, to help take some of the pressure off of Tom Gordon and to give Romero some rest against lefties, and to solidify an already strong bullpen during the race for the post-season.

Castro is sporting a hefty 4.91 ERA at Double-A Reading, a 4-0 record, no saves, 31 walks, 53 strikeouts and 58.2 innings pitched.

The Phillies moved him out of the starting rotation and to the bullpen in hopes that he would become the second lefty with the big club sometime this season but that doesn’t look like it will happen with this team.

This deal seems all too easy for the Phillies to make. If they can part ways with Castro to pick-up Fuentes that would be a big lift to the ‘pen. And who knows, maybe they can sign him to an extension and keep him around for a couple of years. His career ERA is very impressive at 3.42.