Phillies Fill Bullpen Hole By Inking Vet Free Agent David Robertson

David Robertson, the forgotten man of last winter’s free agent market, is back in the game.

The 40-year-old closer, who does not have an agent, returned to one of his former teams Sunday when the Philadelphia Phillies – desperate for relief help – signed him after watching him throw.

Close Race

The Phils, who have been battling the New York Mets for supremacy in the National League East, finished the weekend at 56-43, giving them a lead of just one-half game in the division. Both Philadelphia and New York have lost six of their last ten.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who broke the story, Robertson will receive a pro-rated $16 million salary for the rest of the season, or $6.021 million. His signing, which becomes official after an expected Monday announcement by the team, repairs the primary problem facing the Phils: lack of a reliable closer.

Erstwhile closer Jose Alvarado has been suspended for violating baseball’s rule barring use of performance-enhancing substances. That 80-day suspension, which started earlier this year, also bars the pitcher from appearing in the playoffs in the event the Phils qualify. The hard-throwing Alvarado is eligible to return on Aug. 19.

Trade Unlikely

In the interim, Robertson’s return spares the Phils from finding a late-inning reliever via the trade market, which closes on July 31, and enables them to keep promising minor-league talent that might have been needed to outbid other clubs searching for bullpen help.

For Robertson, a 5’11” Birmingham native, this will be his third sojourn in the City of Brotherly Love. He signed as a free agent before the 2019 season but fell victim to Tommy John elbow surgery after working only 6 2/3 innings. He returned three years later when the Phils acquired him in a midseason trade with the Chicago Cubs that helped Philadelphia win a pennant.

The well-traveled Robertson has also pitched for the Mets, Yankees, White Sox, Rangers, Marlins, and Rays. In 16 seasons, he has a 2.91 earned run average and 177 saves while averaging 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He spent last season as the top set-up man for Kirby Yates in Texas, where he posted a 3.00 ERA in 72 innings pitched.

Strong Starters

Fortunately for Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson, the team has a veteran starting rotation led by Cy Young Award candidate Zack Wheeler and lefty Ranger Suarez. Their strong performance has taken considerable pressure off an underwhelming bullpen brigade that ranks 23rd among the 30 teams in earned run average (4.36). Jordan Romano, a former Toronto closer signed last winter, and fellow free agent Joe Ross have been erratic at best, leaving much of the work to lefty Matt Strahm and youngsters Orion Kerkering and Tanner Banks.

The Phils find Robertson’s postseason record especially attractive. The right-hander has gone 6-0 with a 3.04 ERA in 42 games over 18 series, including a winning World Series with the 2009 Yankees against the Phillies.