Philadelphia Phillies 2021 player grades: Relievers
By Bryce Turner
Philadelphia Phillies LHP José Alvarado
The Phillies acquired José Alvarado from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade during the off-season, where Garrett Cleavinger was sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Alvarado pitched in just 44 games between 2019 and 2020, missing time due to injury and personal reasons, but looked good in 2018 when he had a 2.39 ERA in 70 games.
Alvarado missed some time this past April and August but was still able to appear in 64 games this year. He was one of the more reliable options in the bullpen, giving up an earned run or more in just 15 games while recording seven wins, five saves, and 16 holds.
Despite that, the southpaw did have a 4.20 ERA. He gave up multiple earned runs in just nine games, but those outings had a larger effect on the ERA since he averaged less than an inning per game this season. His worst stretch came before the All-Star break, where he gave up 10 runs (nine earned) in seven innings between June 25 and July 11.
Another concern for Alvarado was the number of walks he issued. He walked 47 batters, which was the second-most in the majors among qualified relievers, and had a 1.599 WHIP, which was fourth-highest.
Still, with that ERA and WHIP, he did manage to limit the damage. His 68 strikeouts were the second-most among Phillies relievers and he pitched into nine groundball double plays, tied for sixth-most in the majors among qualified relievers.
José Alvarado’s 2021 grade: C+
Philadelphia Phillies RHP Connor Brogdon
Connor Brogdon joined the bullpen for his first full season in the majors this year, after making his debut and pitching 11 1/3 innings, across nine games, in 2020. He had a strong start to 2021, going six appearances without giving up a single run, including picking up the win in his first three games.
However, Brogdon struggled mightily on April 20 against the San Francisco Giants, giving up six runs in 2/3 of an inning, picking up a blown save and a loss. He spent the remainder of the season whittling down his ERA from 7.36 to 3.43 at year’s end.
Brogdon redeemed himself from that Giants game during a road trip in June, when he appeared in one game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and two games against the Giants, striking out four batters in three scoreless innings, with just one baserunner, who reached on an error.
Brogdon ended the year with a 5-4 record, his first career save, four blown saves, and 11 holds. He gave up an earned run or more in just 13 of his 56 appearances and had a 1.127 WHIP. The rookie was impressive in most of his games and was one of the better options out of the bullpen.