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That’s the sound of the MLB hot stove firing up. It’s one of those gas burners, so you have to light it before moving the dial.

In the Phillies’ case, they made a good move! Hooray!

They bolstered the bullpen with the signing of Archie Bradley (via MLB.com) – 

A source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Thursday that right-hander Archie Bradley agreed to a one-year, $6 million deal with the Phillies, pending a physical. Bradley, 28, has a 2.95 ERA and 28 saves in 221 appearances over the past four seasons with Arizona and Cincinnati. He earned a career-high 18 saves with the D-backs in 2019.

Looks like it’s official to us, even though the Phillies haven’t announced it:

Big upgrade for one of the worst units in all of sports, not just baseball. We’re talking the “four major North American sports,” plus soccer, lacrosse, and Jai Alai. You’d be hard-pressed to find a worse unit than the 2020 Phillies bullpen, which graced us with a 7.06 ERA and earned the distinction of being the second-worst bullpen in baseball history.

With Bradley’s addition, Joe Girardi has another closing option in addition to Hector Neris and Jose Alvarado. Sam Coonrod also has a handful of saves under his belt.

It’s better. Things are looking better for the Phils. All they need to do now is re-sign J.T. Realmuto and Didi Gregorius, get another starting pitcher in here, and go out and get George Springer. Then we’re rocking and rolling, and might sniff third place in the NL East.