Phillies interested in ‘every notable free-agent reliever’

The Phillies have their sights set on ‘notable’ free-agent relievers.

The Philadelphia Phillies must improve their bullpen this offseason, considering over the past 90 years, only one other bullpen — the 1930 Phillies — had a worse combined ERA across a full season.

According to recent rumors, they are doing whatever it takes to do just that. On Friday, MLB.com’s Jon Morosi reported that the Phillies have inquired on “virtually every notable free-agent reliever,” including the following names, in particular: Archie Bradley, Alex Colome, Shane Greene, Brad Hand, Liam Hendriks, Mark Melancon, Blake Treinen.

Archie Bradley, RHP

The Cincinnati Reds non-tendered the 28-year-old Bradley earlier this week, despite him posting 2. 95 ERA and 18-to-3 strikeouts-to-walks ratio spanning 18 1/3 innings in 2020. Bradley also recorded six saves spanning 16 appearances.

Alex Colome, RHP

Colome, 31, went 2-0 with a 0.81 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 12 saves, and 16 strikeouts this past season spanning 21 appearances. The Phillies reportedly scouted the right-hander as recently as the 2019 season.

Shane Greene, RHP

Greene, 32, went 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA, 21 strikeouts, and 1.12 WHIP ratio spanning 28 appearances with the Atlanta Braves in 2020.

Brad Hand, LHP

Hand, 30, recently had his $10 million team option for the 2021 season declined by the Cleveland Indians. The southpaw appeared in 23 games this past season, posting a 2.05 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 29-to-4 strikeouts-to-walks ratio spanning 22 innings. The three-time All-Star also posted a MLB-best 16 saves, blowing none of the opportunities.

Liam Hendriks, RHP

Hendriks, 31, went 3-1 with a 1.78 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 14 saves, and 37 strikeouts across 24 appearances and 25 1/3 innings with the Oakland Athletics the past season, earning him the 2020 Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award.

Mark Melancon, RHP

Another strong Braves reliever from the 2020 season, Melancon, 35, posted a 2.78 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts through 23 appearances.

Blake Treinen, RHP

Treinen, 32, went 3-3 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in the regular season for the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. During the Fall Classic, he threw a scoreless ninth inning in Game 5, while striking out two of his four batters faced, to notch the save.

If the Phillies can sign at least one of these seven “notable” relievers they reportedly are interested in, their bullpen would be significantly improved ahead of the 2021 season.