5 trade deadline disasters that prove the Phillies were right to not go “all-in”
By Edward Eng
Bullpen help
In addition to starting pitching and outfield help, the Phillies were open to upgrading their bullpen for the stretch run, due to the struggles of the usually reliable Gregory Soto and Seranthony Domínguez throughout the 2023 season.
4. David Robertson
Being one of the key bullpen targets at the trade deadline, David Robertson was highly sought after by many teams as he has proven to still be one of the premium closers in the game. Even just last season, Robertson was instrumental in helping the Phillies reach the postseason and all the way to the World Series by providing stability in the back end of the bullpen. As a result, wouldn’t a wonderful reunion with Robertson be a great boost for the ballclub going into the stretch run?
It didn’t end up coming to fruition, as Robertson would end up being traded to the Phillies’ rivals in the Marlins instead, as they didn’t have a primary closer for the bulk of the 2023 season. As mentioned before, the Marlins were very active at the trade deadline, with multiple key acquisitions to bolster their lineup down the stretch. Some of them have panned out so far, but in the case of Robertson, it has been a total flop for the big fish.
Since joining the Marlins, he was suddenly appearing to show his age, as he has gone 0-4 with three blown saves, along with a mind-boggling 7.50 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, giving up 10 earned runs, seven walks and 13 strikeouts in just 12 innings of work. On the bright side, at least he was successful in nailing down a save on four occasions, but with a dismal performance like that, the Marlins suddenly find themselves on the outside looking in for the NL playoff picture. It wasn’t just too long ago when they were firmly in a playoff spot and even ahead of the Phillies at one time, but things have certainly changed in a hurry. Luckily, it’s more of the Marlins’ problem now and not the Phillies.