Top 4 former Phillies players who are still unsigned
By Matt Rappa
3. David Robertson
Every Phillies fan knows the name of David Robertson — not just because he helped the New York Yankees defeat the Charlie Manuel-led team in the 2009 World Series, but that he pitched just 6 2/3 innings across his recent two-year, $23 million contract with the Phillies (including a $2 million buyout for 2021).
Robertson has thrown multiple showcases this offseason, the most recent occurring on February 19, when more than a dozen teams attended, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The right-hander reportedly looked good at the showcase, sitting at 90 to 91 miles per hour and touched 92 on “multiple occasions.”
One scout even told great baseball scribe Peter Gammons, with confidence, that Robertson would be signed. Fast-forward to now, and the soon-to-be 36-year-old is still without a new contract.
During his Phillies tenure, Robertson battled through an elbow injury. He faced just 33 batters at the start of the 2019 campaign, allowing eight hits, four runs (all earned), one home run, and six walks, while striking out six batters en route to an 0-1 record, 5.40 ERA, and 2.100 WHIP ratio.
Robertson’s final Phillies appearance was on April 14, 2019, and he would later undergo Tommy John surgery that summer. Eyeing a return sometime in the summer of 2020, Robertson suffered a setback and also missed the entire COVID-19 shortened season.
Robertson never got to pitch with the Phillies under his long-time Yankees skipper, Joe Girardi — only under Gabe Kapler in his final season in Philadelphia before he was fired.