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The Philadelphia Phillies are completely blowing up their bullpen

By David Esser

Sep 8, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitchers Hector Neris (50) and Ranger Suarez (55) and JoJo Romero (79) and Connor Brogdon (75) walk to the bullpen before the start of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 8, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitchers Hector Neris (50) and Ranger Suarez (55) and JoJo Romero (79) and Connor Brogdon (75) walk to the bullpen before the start of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 3, 2019; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher David Robertson (30) walks off the field after walking in the game winning run against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2019; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher David Robertson (30) walks off the field after walking in the game winning run against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

RHP David Robertson

Club option declined.

The Philadelphia Phillies marquee bullpen acquisition prior to the 2019 season, David Robertson is going to go down as one of the biggest “what ifs” in team franchise history. He pitched just 6.2 innings for the Phillies in 2019 before undergoing Tommy John surgery, and failed to make a comeback in 2020.

There were rumors that he was eyeing a return for the Phils following the trade deadline, but a few setbacks ultimately pushed him off that goal. He accounted for $23 million worth of salary over the two years that he was in Philadelphia, and then made an additional $2 million in way of his buyout.

Declining Robertson’s option was a no-brainer. He turns 36 years old in April and is coming off a nasty elbow injury. Even with the two years of rehab, it’s hard to imagine that he would come back anywhere close to his previous All Star caliber form.

It’s unfortunate that Robertson never got a chance to cement himself as a reliable bullpen arm for the Phillies, especially considering how desperately they needed one this past season. However, that can sometimes be the risk that GMs assume when they sign 30+ year old pitchers to lucrative free agent contracts.

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