3 free agents who can still bolster Phillies bullpen after Josh Hader chose Astros

The top free agent closer agreed to a massive contract with Houston on Friday, but there are still some options on the market if the Phillies decide to add a reliever.

Championship Series - Texas Rangers v Houston Astros - Game Six
Championship Series - Texas Rangers v Houston Astros - Game Six / Carmen Mandato/GettyImages
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Josh Hader is no longer a free agent after he signed a deal with the Houston Astros for five years and $95 million on Friday. The Philadelphia Phillies were in rumors as a suitor for Hader but were never in serious consideration to sign the best closer available.

Hader's deal has already affected the free agent relief pitcher market, with two other relievers, Robert Stephenson and John Brebbia, signing deals with the Los Angeles Angels and Chicago White Sox, respectively. If the Phillies want to add a free agent to help their bullpen, they need to do so quickly, as the market has picked up, and there are just over three weeks left until spring training begins.

Which free agent relievers could the Phillies consider adding, following the Astros' blockbuster signing?

Here are three free agents who can still bolster the Phillies bullpen.

Aroldis Chapman

The veteran reliever has many years of experience as a closer. However, Aroldis Chapman is not the same pitcher he used to be. Following his exit from the New York Yankees, the Kansas City Royals decided to add him to bolster their bullpen on a one-year deal last offseason.

Chapman posted a 2.45 ERA in 31 games with the Royals. It was his lowest since 2019 when he finished with a 2.21 ERA in 60 contests with the Yankees. He didn't receive nearly as many save opportunities compared to earlier in his career with the Cincinnati Reds and New York. He converted two of four save chances with Kansas City.

The Texas Rangers traded for Chapman last season to strengthen their bullpen with an eye on making the postseason. While he had shaky outings at times, the 35-year-old contributed to the club winning a World Series. The reliever also earned a championship after being traded mid-season in 2016 from the Yankees to the Chicago Cubs.

Philadelphia could sign Chapman to a one-year deal as a setup man, considering he is not a dominant closer anymore. He could still be used as a ninth-inning reliever if the Phillies are in a situation with many relievers unavailable or the club is dealing with multiple injuries to its bullpen. He would add depth as an experienced option for manager Rob Thomson to use in the later innings of a game.

Hector Neris

The former Phillie is one of the top relievers remaining following Hader's deal with the Astros. If Philadelphia is looking for another experienced pitcher to add to its bullpen, it should consider adding Hector Neris if he and the club can work out a deal.

As a closer, Neris has been a bit hit-and-miss during his career, as he has converted 89 of 120 save opportunities. He appeared to be in a better situation during his previous two seasons with the Astros. The club didn't use the 34-year-old as its primary option in the ninth inning. He's coming off of one of his finest seasons, posting a 1.71 ERA last year, the lowest of his 10-year career in the majors.

As a setup man or an option to be used in the sixth or seventh innings, the Phillies should pursue Neris. The reliever has also gained experience pitching in the postseason with the Astros — he was a member of Houston's championship team that defeated Philadelphia in the 2022 World Series.

Wandy Peralta

After struggling early in his career with the Reds, Wandy Peralta improved during his tenure with the San Francisco Giants. He has performed even better during his two-and-a-half seasons with the Yankees.

Following his struggles to maintain an ERA of around three runs, Peralta has posted an ERA of 2.95, 2.72, and 2.83 in consecutive seasons with New York. He has only converted 13 of his 26 save opportunities during his career, which isn't good. However, he has not been used as a closer that often throughout his eight-year career.

Peralta represents a reliever the Phillies could sign to an affordable contract to help bolster their bullpen. He represents a good option for Thomson to use before the eighth or ninth innings in close games where Philadelphia has a lead. The left-hander could also be used in the setup role. Coming off one of the best years of his career in the majors, the Phillies could add a decent reliever in the 32-year-old left-hander.

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