What do the Phillies hope the veteran, versatile David Robertson can bring?
PHILADELPHIA — With just 10 days remaining before Major League Baseball’s trade deadline, the Phillies made a move to bolster their bullpen that didn’t cost them any prospects. On Monday, they officially signed old friend David Robertson, luring the 40-year-old away from a summer with his wife and three kids.
The right-handed reliever has not pitched yet this season, but he did have a 3.00 ERA in 68 appearances for the Texas Rangers last year. The 16-year big-league veteran has a career 2.91 ERA, and he’s familiar with the organization as he comes back for his third separate stint. But most importantly, the Phillies think he can help a relief unit that clearly needs improvement.
“He’s an experienced guy that’s been through this before,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “He’s comfortable with Philadelphia. Last year, he had a really good year. If he can do that again, we’re a much better club.”
Robertson signed a two-year contract with Philadelphia in 2019, but he pitched only seven games before undergoing Tommy John surgery. The Phillies traded for him in 2022, and he closed out their win in Game 1 of the World Series in Houston. He was back at Citizens Bank Park again on Monday for another chance with the team.
“Third time’s a charm,” Robertson told reporters. “Listen, this is the place I want to be.”
The Phillies optioned Robertson to Triple-A upon signing him, and he’ll head to Lehigh Valley, where the team expects him to stay for 15 days until he can be recalled. He’ll pitch there before rejoining the major-league club.
Once he’s back with the Phillies, the team hopes he can fortify a bullpen that has a 4.33 ERA, which ranks 23rd in MLB. For his career, Robertson has been a right-hander who gets left-handed batters out, holding lefties to a .551 OPS. That factor could allow Thomson to deploy the pitcher in a variety of situations.
He’s closed in the past, but he’s also pitched plenty as a set-up man and in the middle innings.
“You’re not really concerned about what pocket he comes in,” Thomson said, “because the cutter gets people out. The mix of the curveball and the cutter can get both sides out. When you’re looking at Robbie to come into the game, you’re not concerned about where it is in the lineup.”
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the team saw Robertson pitch twice before signing him. They sent Charlie Kerfeld to scout him on Saturday. Robertson threw 88 to 90 mph, and Philadelphia was pleased with the other metrics. The Phillies think Robertson will have even more velocity in the tank moving forward.
Of course, it’s no slam dunk that Robertson will be as effective as he was last season. But it’s worth a shot, especially since Dombrowski didn’t rule out further additions to the bullpen.
“I don’t know if I expect it,” Dombrowski said, “but I guess it’s in the mix of things that we’ll talk about to make us better.”
Regardless, Robertson should be a contributor for a Phillies team that looked thin in the bullpen entering the year and is currently missing its best reliever, José Alvarado, due to an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug; Alvarado will not be eligible in the postseason.
The Phillies have some more time to make trades to address the bullpen, and they could also use one or more of their starting pitchers in relief down the stretch and in the playoffs. But the Phillies hope Robertson can bring some depth and reliability with their sights set on an eventual World Series championship.
“It’s a great core group in this clubhouse,” Robertson said. “I want to be a part of it, and I want to get over the hump and get it done. I would love to put a ring on this finger.”