4 good free agent fits for Phillies who are somehow still available

These available free agents would increase the club's depth.

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Danny Coulombe

The Phillies bullpen is another position group that could benefit from another addition in free agency. Relievers Estévez and Hoffman were free agents this winter. The former is still available while the latter agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this month.

Philadelphia signed former Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano to a one-year contract earlier this offseason. They also signed reliever/starter Joe Ross. He will be a reliever and make some starts if necessary. His role will be like Spencer Turnbull's last year, before he suffered a long-term injury in June. Matt Strahm, Alvarado and Orion Kerkering are the favorites to pitch in the late innings before the closer appears.

Danny Coulombe is one available reliever who could add depth to the Phillies' bullpen.

Coulombe is coming off a season with the Baltimore Orioles, in which he missed a significant amount of time with left elbow inflammation, which he needed surgery for. He appeared in 33 games and finished with a 2.12 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP. The WHIP he compiled in 2024 was the lowest of his 10-year career. In 2023, the left-hander appeared in 61 contests and finished with an ERA of 2.81 and a WHIP of 1.11.

The Orioles decided not to pick up Coulombe's $4 million contract option for 2025. The 35-year-old's injury history appears to have made other clubs, including Baltimore, reluctant to sign him. However, he has been productive when he has been healthy. His strikeout rate of 29.9 percent last season was the highest of his career. He also posted a 4.7 percent walk rate, the lowest of his career.

The Steamer projection system predicts Coulombe to play in 52 games this season. His ERA and WHIP are predicted to be 3.64 and 1.24, respectively. He is expected to see a drop in his strikeout rate to 24.2 percent, while his walk rate will increase to 7.6 percent. Many of his numbers may not be as good due to playing in more contests than the 33 games he played in 2024.

The Phillies could sign Coulombe to an affordable one-year deal or invite him to spring training, considering he is coming off a year in which he missed approximately three months with injury. The Phillies invited reliever José Ruiz to last year's spring training, after which he totaled a 3.71 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP in 52 games. He remained on the club's roster throughout the season and did better in 2024 compared to the year prior.

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