The Phillies boosted their bullpen on Sunday.
The Philadelphia Phillies currently sit just a half-game ahead of the New York Mets in the National League East. At 56-43, they own the third best record in the Senior Circuit.
However, they have been plagued all season long by bullpen issues. Jordan Romano hasn't panned out as their closer, and Jose Alvarado was issued an 80-game PED suspension that will make him ineligible to pitch in the postseason.
Philadelphia will likely continue to search for bullpen help with the trade deadline approaching. They are likely to be aggressive buyers this summer.
But not all of their help will come via trade. According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Phillies made a free agent signing to boost their bullpen.
"The Phillies have taken the first step toward upgrading their bullpen, reaching an agreement with free-agent right-hander David Robertson, a source told The Athletic," Rosenthal wrote on Sunday.
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Robertson, a 15-year MLB veteran, is a familiar face. The Phillies had him briefly in 2019 before injuries derailed him, then he rejoined the team at the trade deadline in 2022 as they made their push to the World Series.
The 40-year-old right-hander owns a 2.91 ERA over his 15 seasons in the big leagues. He helped the New York Yankees win their 27th World Series title in 2009 and was also an All-Star in 2011.
Robertson recently threw a bullpen session with several teams in attendance. The Phillies were obviously one of the teams present.
The veteran posted a 3.00 ERA last season with the Texas Rangers, but somehow went unsigned after the offseason. But the Phillies have made a key move to bolster their pitching staff.
If Robertson can stay true to his form, Philadelphia's bullpen will receive a major boost. They might not be done looking for help yet, but this is an important signing for the team.
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Category: Baseball
