The Phillies have taken the first step toward upgrading their bullpen, reaching an agreement with free-agent right-hander David Robertson, sources told The Athletic.
The deal, which is pending a physical, will pay Robertson approximately $5.5 million on a pro-rated, one-year, $16 million contract, a source told The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. The actual cost to the Phillies will be approximately $12 million, including the 110 percent tax they must pay on every dollar for being over the fourth luxury-tax threshold.
Robertson, who turned 40 in April, threw for teams Saturday in Providence, R.I. Terms of his agreement are not known, but his deal likely is for the rest of the season only.
The Phillies entered Sunday ranked 23rd in the majors in bullpen ERA. Their best reliever, José Alvarado, currently is serving an 80-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball’s joint drug agreement. Alvarado will return in August, but will not be eligible for the postseason.
Robertson has not appeared in a game since late last September. He spent the 2024 season with the Texas Rangers, producing a 3.00 ERA with 99 strikeouts and 27 walks in 72 innings. At the end of the season, Robertson, who is self-represented, declined his end of a mutual option with the Rangers, accepting a $1.5 million buyout for the ability to test free agency.
Once he joins the Phillies, Robertson will begin his 17th season in the majors. He signed a two-year, $23 million free-agent deal with the Phillies in 2019, but appeared in only seven games for them before undergoing Tommy John surgery. The Phillies reacquired him in July 2022 in a trade with the Chicago Cubs for right-hander Ben Brown.
Robertson’s first seven seasons were with the New York Yankees. He made the All-Star team with them in 2011, and rejoined them in a trade from the Chicago White Sox in July 2017.
In addition to those teams and the Rangers, Robertson has pitched for the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays. The Mets and Yankees were among the teams interested in signing him before the Phillies struck.
The Athletic’s Will Sammon and Matt Gelb contributed to this report.
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