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Phillies Still Targeting High-Leverage Relievers After David Robertson Signing

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sterling Bennett | Last updated Jul 27, 2025 7:59 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies may have World Series aspirations, but their bullpen continues to drag them down. The offense is hitting its stride with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber finding their power stroke, and the starting pitching rotation continues to be a bright spot. Yet, their bullpen ranks 22nd in baseball with a 4.27 ERA and lacks a consistent late-inning reliever.

The team is expecting closer Jose Alvarado to return from his 80-game suspension, but they did not wait to address their bullpen needs in the meantime. Earlier this week, Philadelphia signed David Robertson to a one-year, $6 million deal. After a short stint in Triple-A, the Phillies are hoping Robertson can add another proven and reliable arm to their struggling bullpen. Yet, the reunion does not preclude Philadelphia from continuing to scour the trade market for more relief pitching.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Phillies want to add one more high-leverage reliever by the deadline.

Nightengale did not state if Philadelphia is targeting any particular pitchers, but the need is clear. Replacement closer Jordan Romano is a disaster waiting to happen whenever he takes the mound. His 6.99 ERA is the highest among qualified relief pitchers, and his eight saves rank at the bottom of the league for primary closers.

While the Phillies attempted to shift bullpen roles with left-hander Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering both assuming closer duties for a short spell, the team’s bullpen dynamic faltered, resulting in Romano retaking the ninth inning. The current approach has worked so far, but with the Phillies just one game behind the New York Mets in a tight NL East race, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is not expected to stay idle — nor can he afford to.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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