David Robertson, Phillies Reportedly Agree to $5M Contract After Workout for MLB Teams

The Philadelphia Phillies, desperate for bullpen help, are reportedly signing veteran free agent David Robertson, per The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

ESPN's Jeff Passan provided the contract details for the agreement, which will be for the duration of the 2025 season:

Robertson, 40, appeared in 68 games for the Texas Rangers last season, finishing 3-4 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 99 strikeouts in 72 innings. Those numbers don't look terrible, but he did blow eight saves in 10 opportunities.

He declined a mutual option worth $7 million over the winter and didn't pick up with another team in free agency before Sunday.

Philly fans will be plenty familiar with Robertson, who had stints with the team in both 2019 and 2022. In just 29 appearances across those two seasons he went 1-4 with a 3.30 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 36 strikeouts in 30 innings, with six saves and three blown saves.

The Phillies need any help they can get in relief, however, with Rosenthal noting the team ranks 23rd in bullpen ERA. Top reliever José Alvarado is serving an 80-game suspension and is ineligible for the postseason, while Matt Strahm has taken a step back after being an All-Star last year.

The team's top offseason addition for the bullpen, Jordan Romano, has been poor, going 1-4 with a 6.88 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in 35.1 innings, recording eight saves and three blown saves. The Phillies don't have a single reliever with double-digit saves and only one mainstay in the bullpen, Orion Kerkering, has a sub-3.00 ERA (2.95 ERA, 1.45 WHIP).

More than likely, Robertson's signing will not be the Phillies' lone stab at fixing their bullpen woes. He isn't a viable option at closer at this point in his career and it's unclear whether he'll be a good option, period, after not pitching at all this season.

The Phillies have arguably the top starting rotation in the sport, which has kept them in the running for an NL East title, but more bullpen help is needed. Expect them to make another move or two in that regard.