Philadelphia Phillies: Five non-tendered free agents they could add

The Philadelphia Phillies could get a major upgrade for the back of their bullpen.

To say the Phillies bullpen was dreadful in 2020 would be a major understatement. Saying it was the worst bullpen in baseball history might not be. It needs a complete overhaul and there’s a new face on the free agent market who could be a major impact in late inning situations.

Just a couple of season ago Archie Bradley was up there when talking about the best relievers in baseball. He blew batters away with 143 strikeouts in 2016, and his 1.73 ERA the following year earned him MVP consideration.

Bradley’s numbers came back to earth over the last three years with a combined 3.51 ERA averaging 60 strikeouts a season. He’s kept the ERA below 4.00 and last year when he was traded to the Reds it was an impressive 1.17 in six outings.

He’s a two-pitch guy with a fastball and curve, but the fastball velocity has dipped slightly in each of his last three seasons, down about two MPH. His 37.8% hard-hit rate is slightly concerning, but it dropped last year to a career-low 33.3%

Bradley could also reunite with Philadelphia’s new pitching coach Caleb Cotham, who was in Cincinnati with Bradley (albeit briefly) last season.

The Phillies bullpen needs some lottery cards in 2021 and they would hit the jackpot with Bradley if he can return to some form of his 2017 self and be either a setup man or their closer.