Phillies: 10 veteran relievers to target in free agency

Adam Ottavino

Adam Ottavino is quietly one of the top relievers on the free agent market this offseason. Matt Klentak showed last offseason that he’s willing to spend big on relievers, giving Tommy Hunter and Pat Neshek $34.2 million over two years last year.

Ottavino, a former teammate of Neshek in Colorado, had a 2.43 ERA with 112 strikeouts in 75 games. Despite pitching in Colorado, Ottavino had a fairly even home/away split last year, maintaining a 2.10 ERA at home compared to 2.70 on the road.

He primarily appeared in the eighth inning for the Rockies, doing so 55 times in 70 games. Ottavino has established himself as one of the top set-up men in baseball and a lock-down arm late in ballgames, something the Phillies lacked.

Ottavino turns 33 in November, giving the Phillies another veteran to help a young bullpen maturate. Signing him to a two-year deal similar to Hunter’s at $18 million is not out of the realm of possibility.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Ottavino makes more than that after playing for $7 million last year.

Also, who doesn’t want a player who wears #0? Ottavino would be only the second player in franchise history to don the number and the first since Al Oliver in 1984.