Matt Moore
Matt Moore began his MLB career as a starter for the Tampa Bay Rays way back in 2011. The former All-Star was considered a key part of the Rays’ rotation during his first few seasons in the big leagues.
Unfortunately, he regressed quite considerably between 2015 and 2021, including a failed starting stint with the Phillies in 2021, and showed he was no longer an effective option in the starting role. As a result, he reinvented himself as a reliever for the 2022 season with the Texas Rangers and hasn't looked back since.
Even though he'll be turning 35 next year, Moore has become one of the top relievers in the game the past two seasons. In his career year in 2022, he pitched to a 5-2 record with 14 holds and five saves, along with a 1.95 ERA and 1.18 WHIP, giving up only 16 earned runs, including just three home runs, and 83 strikeouts in 74 innings pitched. He followed that up with a solid 2023 season in which he posted a 5-1 winning record with 22 holds, a 2.56 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 60 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings of work across three teams.
Moore would be the ideal setup man to pair with Alvarado in setting the table for the team’s closer. More importantly, it probably won’t cost the Phillies a lot to obtain his services as he was waived twice during the 2023 season despite his dominance, including being designated for assignment at the end of the season by the Miami Marlins. So surely, the former Phillie will be happy to come back to Philadelphia and play for a contender again before he hits the twilight of his career.