Phillies Recall David Robertson

The Phillies announced today that they have recalled right-handed reliever David Robertson for his 2025 debut. In a corresponding move, fellow righty Alan Rangel was optioned to Triple-A. If Robertson appears in today’s game, he’ll be facing his team from last season, the Rangers.

Robertson, who turned 40 in April, is gearing up for his 17th MLB season (and his third with the Phillies). Aside from an injury-plagued rough patch from 2019-21, he has been one of the best relievers in the league since his breakout season with the Yankees in 2009. In 876 2/3 career innings, he owns a 66-46 record, 177 saves, and a sub-3.00 ERA. Just over 200 of those frames came in the past three years (2022-24), when Robertson pitched to a 2.82 ERA with a strikeout rate over 30%. He ranked among the top 10 relievers in innings pitched and Win Probability Added (WPA).

So, it was more than a little surprising that Robertson, no. 47 on MLBTR’s Top 50 Free Agents list, failed to secure a contract this past offseason. It wasn’t until mid-July that he signed with the Phillies on a prorated one-year, $16MM deal that will ultimately pay him about $6MM in 2025. While $6MM is well below the $11MM salary MLBTR predicted for Robertson on a one-year deal and the $10MM salary Robertson was reportedly seeking in the offseason, the $16MM value of his contract technically makes him one of the highest-paid relievers in the game this year.

There is little question that Robertson’s advanced age is what gave potential suitors pause during the offseason. The question now is if their resistance to sign him becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The veteran showed last season that he was still one of the game’s elite relievers at 39 years old. However, he’s now trying to get back to that level after missing spring training and the first four-plus months of the year. If his shaky performance during his handful of Triple-A outings is any indication, he could be in for a rough adjustment period in the majors. With only seven weeks left to play before October, that adjustment period could end up being most of his season.

The Phillies will hope Robertson can pick up right where he left off last year. Their bullpen has done well as of late, but on the year, it hasn’t been the strength it was in 2023 or ’24. Offseason signing Jordan Romano has not been able to rediscover his All-Star form from 2020-23, while long-tenured fireballer José Alvarado has missed much of the season on a PED suspension. He’ll be back soon but won’t be eligible to pitch in the playoffs. The addition of Jhoan Duran is already helping – he has three saves in three perfect appearances –  but the Phillies could certainly use another high-leverage arm to join Duran, Orion Kerkering, and Matt Strahm as the club looks to go on a deep postseason run.