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3 relievers for the Philadelphia Phillies to target in Free Agency

By Kevin Dickson

Sep 24, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Adam Ottavino (0) throws a pitch against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Adam Ottavino (0) throws a pitch against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports /
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For years, the ongoing joke with the Philadelphia Phillies has been how weak their bullpen has been. Sure, they have had some moments, including the re-emergence of Seranthony Dominguez and Jose Alvarado in 2022, which helped guide the Phillies to the National League Pennant.

The bullpen, however, has continued to be an area of concern; and let’s face it, you can never have enough pitching.

Fresh off the best season the franchise experienced in over a decade, the Philadelphia Phillies are sure to be busy on the open market this winter. Here are three relief pitchers the team could target to bolster their bullpen for 2023:

Phillies target #1: Adam Ottavino (New York Mets)

We start with a familiar foe in Adam Ottavino, who spent the 2022 season right in the division, pitching for the New York Mets. Ottavino is a veteran, having appeared in 598 games in his Major League career, which has now spanned over 12 years. His career ERA sits at 3.44, and he has averaged 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings for his career.

Adam Ottavino has pitched for five teams over this time frame. Along with his one season as a Met, this list includes the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox.

There is a legitimate case to be made that Ottavino experienced the best season of his career in 2022, as he appeared in 66 games for the Metropolitans and posted an ERA of 2.06. He also struck out 10.8 batters per nine innings while only walking 2.2 hitters per nine innings.

Ottavino will be 37 years old on Opening Day in 2023, so it is likely he will only receive a one or two-year contract from his next employer. Spotrac currently lists his market value at $4.8 million dollars, so a one-year deal at, let’s say, $5 million for 2023 could be enough to get the job done.

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