Phillies

Phillies Reportedly “Reached Out” to David Robertson

By Luke Arcaini

Published: May 20th, 2025 · 9:21 AM EDT

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The Phillies will need to find a way to fill the void created by the Jose Alvarado until trade reinforcements can be added.

Jordan Romano, Matt Strahm, and Orion Kerkering are the top three relievers for the Phillies right now, and I’d say it’s in that order. The loss of Alvarado is big, especially the ineligibility for the postseason. Luckily, those three guys have really turned it on in the month of May, especially Romano:

Jordan Romano, Orion Kerkering, and Matt Strahm in the month of May:

Romano: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 10 K
Kerkering: 6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 K
Strahm: 6.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 9 K

20 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, 24 K, 1.35 ERA

— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) May 19, 2025

But those guys won’t be enough. Ideally, players like Tanner Banks, Carlos Hernandez, and Jose Ruiz shouldn’t be coming into high leverage situations.

Former Phillie David Robertson can pitch high leverage situations, and according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Phillies have reportedly reached out to Robertson about a potential return:

Prior to the announcement of Alvarado’s suspension, a source said the Phillies reached out to free agent David Robertson, easily the best reliever left on the open market. No serious talks took place, the source said, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Phillies considered a reunion with the 40-year-old, who has had two previous stints in Philadelphia.

Robertson is still on the open market. The 40-year-old pitched to a 3.00 ERA with the Texas Rangers last year, logging 99 strikeouts in 72 innings with a 131 ERA+ and a 2.65 FIP. Robertson made seven appearances for the Phillies in 2019 before Tommy John surgery kept him out of the entire 2020 season.

He returned to Philadelphia at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for Ben Brown, and pitched some pretty big innings in what was the first major playoff run in more than ten years.. Robertson logged a 2.70 ERA in 2022, along with a 1.17 ERA in eight playoff appearances with 11 strikeouts.

I’ve seen a lot of people start calling for Dave Dombrowski to make a huge splash now, but that’s hard to do. Teams don’t start selling in May. If the Phillies went to a struggling Orioles team right now and asked for Felix Bautista, the O’s would drive the price up because they know how bad the Phillies could use a reliever.

The eight guys that are currently in the bullpen are not the exact eight guys that will be here for the postseason, I can guarantee you that. I’d be interested in a reunion with Robertson. I think adding a veteran to this bullpen who has a ton of proven success could be big for this team right now.