The Phillies have added their third reliever of the offseason
The Phillies have signed right-handed reliever Steve Geltz to a minor league deal, according to SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo.
Spending last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers Triple-A club Geltz owned an impressive 2.67 ERA in 23 relief appearances with 29 strikeouts. Phillies manager Gabe Kapler likely got to know Geltz as the Dodgers director of player development last year.
Geltz has major league experience with the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels, but has bounced between the minors since his debut in 2012.
As a major league pitcher, Geltz is 2-9 with a 4.23 ERA in 110 games and 99 strikeouts.
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It’s unlikely the 30-year-old Geltz makes the team out of spring training with the additions of veterans Pat Neshek and Tommy Hunter. If one of the Phillies major league arms goes down Geltz will be one of the first names the team calls up.
Geltz is the second veteran arm given a minor league deal this offseason by general manager Matt Klentak. Pedro Beato was brought back after spending nearly the entire season with Lehigh Valley, where he broke the franchise single-season saves record.
Next: Phillies: Who fills out the bullpen in 2018
Considering the additions of Neshek and Hunter combined with the second half success of the young arms the bullpen the battles in spring training should be fierce. Yacksel Rios and Victor Arano are likely on the outside looking in while Hoby Milner, Adam Morgan, and Edubray Ramos appear to have locked down their jobs as the middle relievers going into next year.