Philadelphia Phillies Considering Major Moves in Bullpen Ahead of 2026 Season.
The Phillies' revamped bullpen, which played a significant role in their successful regular season last year, will likely undergo significant changes this offseason. With five key relievers set to return, the team will need to decide whether to retain them or find new contributors through free agency.
Taijuan Walker, who is expected to occupy one of the eight available spots in spring training, makes it clear that the Phillies are likely to be active in the relief market. Considering they have three left-handers on their return list and five overall, they may look to add right-handed pitchers to bolster their bullpen depth.
Several free agents could be on the Phillies' radar, including Pete Fairbanks, a talented late-inning reliever who had a standout season with the Tampa Bay Rays last year. Kenley Jansen, another All-Star closer, is also reportedly available and might be a good fit for a team looking to finish their season strong.
Other notable pitchers like Ryan Helsley, Emilio Pagan, Raisel Iglesias, Seranthony Dominguez, Kyle Finnegan, Luke Weaver, Jakob Junis, Pierce Johnson, Phil Maton, Chris Martin, Jonathan Loaisiga, Scott Barlow, Ryne Stanek, Justin Topa, Jose Leclerc, Ryan Brasier, and Shelby Miller could all be potential targets for the Phillies.
The team may also look to free agents who are looking to bounce back from disappointing seasons. Devin Williams, for example, had a subpar year with the New York Yankees after six elite seasons in Milwaukee, while Hunter Harvey has been dealing with injuries, which limited his appearances last season.
Ultimately, the Phillies will need to weigh their options carefully as they navigate the relief market and determine how much it's willing to spend to bolster its bullpen.
The Phillies' revamped bullpen, which played a significant role in their successful regular season last year, will likely undergo significant changes this offseason. With five key relievers set to return, the team will need to decide whether to retain them or find new contributors through free agency.
Taijuan Walker, who is expected to occupy one of the eight available spots in spring training, makes it clear that the Phillies are likely to be active in the relief market. Considering they have three left-handers on their return list and five overall, they may look to add right-handed pitchers to bolster their bullpen depth.
Several free agents could be on the Phillies' radar, including Pete Fairbanks, a talented late-inning reliever who had a standout season with the Tampa Bay Rays last year. Kenley Jansen, another All-Star closer, is also reportedly available and might be a good fit for a team looking to finish their season strong.
Other notable pitchers like Ryan Helsley, Emilio Pagan, Raisel Iglesias, Seranthony Dominguez, Kyle Finnegan, Luke Weaver, Jakob Junis, Pierce Johnson, Phil Maton, Chris Martin, Jonathan Loaisiga, Scott Barlow, Ryne Stanek, Justin Topa, Jose Leclerc, Ryan Brasier, and Shelby Miller could all be potential targets for the Phillies.
The team may also look to free agents who are looking to bounce back from disappointing seasons. Devin Williams, for example, had a subpar year with the New York Yankees after six elite seasons in Milwaukee, while Hunter Harvey has been dealing with injuries, which limited his appearances last season.
Ultimately, the Phillies will need to weigh their options carefully as they navigate the relief market and determine how much it's willing to spend to bolster its bullpen.