The Phillies may have their best bullpen in franchise history, thanks to Davey D

PHILADELPHIA. PA - It was no accident that the Phillies may come into 2023 with a top bullpen in Baseball, after trading fan favorites 2B Nick Maton, and CF Matt Vierling to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for All-Star closer Gregory Soto, the Phillies bullpen projects to be one of the best in the league.

Coming into the 2023 offseason the Phillies goal was clear, fill the hole at shortstop, buff up the bullpen, and add a solid 2-3 starter. And so they did, first with the blockbuster addition of Trea Turner, then the agape addition of Taijaun Walker filling out the starting rotation, and finally Dave Dombrowski took to the bullpen and possibly gave the Phils their greatest back-8 in franchise history. Starting with the signings of LHP Matt Strahm, and RHP Craig Kimbrel, the Phils made debatably their top bullpen addition of the winter when they acquired Gregory Soto from the Tigers quite possibly closing out one of the best offseasons in team history.

In 2022 we saw one of the best all-around bullpens from this Phils club in decades, with the likes of Jose Alverado, David Robertson, and Seranthony Dominguez dealing at the back end, and guys like Connor Brogdon and Andrew Bellatti turning into reliable night-in and night out options the bullpen began to take shape. By season’s end the Phils pen ranked amongst the top in the NL in Earned Runs Allowed, Hits allowed, and Strikeouts.

With the additions to the pen, subtle and not-so, it looks as though the Phils will have seven of their eight spots filled before the squad even hits the field for spring ball. It seems that Jose Alverado, Seranthony Dominguez, Greg Soto, and Craig Kimbrel will lock up the back end while Connor Brogdon, Andrew Bellatti, and Matt Strahm seem to have the middle relief roles all but up for grabs. That would leave just one spot open at the back end of the pen for either deep middle relief or a 6th starter/long reliever.

The Phils are headed into the 23’ campaign with a combined bullpen ERA of 3.38 which would put them amongst the best in Baseball. And as the years have gone on bullpens have become some of the most valuable assets in the MLB. The best squads in the league always have a top-tier bullpen, the Phillies know this and they also knew that they weren’t going to make it back to the Fall Classic unless some major improvements were made. With that being said, bullpen arms are also just about as consistent as SEPTA’s arrival times. There is no telling what you’re going to get from any reliever no matter how much you pay them. However, we have seen Caleb Cotham and the Phils coaching staff turn around the likes of Jose Alverado, Bailey Falter, and Andrew Bellatti, whos to say they won’t be able to help Soto, Kimbrel, and Strahm maintain their dominant strides.