Why Do The Phillies Need Bullpen Help?
The team’s bullpen was downright awful last season. Of the 19 relievers to pitch for the Phils last year, only Hector Neris pitched a full season with a reasonable ERA.
David Hernandez was serviceable (3.84 ERA in 72.2 IP), as was Edubray Ramos (3.83 ERA, 40.0 IP), but that was it. Even when including the efforts of the three aforementioned relievers, the team’s bullpen collectively owned an ERA of 5.05, while allowing a .271 batting average to opposing hitters.
Both of those marks placed 28th in all of baseball. It’s no secret that last year’s crop of veteran relievers didn’t pan out. So now it’s time to try a new crop.
Gary Brinson talked about Mark Rzepczynski and Brian Matusz last week, and today I’ll be looking at a few more low-cost, free agent relief pitchers: