The Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen concerns worsened significantly after reliever José Alvarado received an 80-game suspension for violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drug policy. With the team already eyeing bullpen reinforcements ahead of the trade deadline, the suspension has heightened the urgency to explore external solutions.
One potential move could involve a reunion with veteran free agent reliever David Robertson. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported that the Phillies had already reached out to Robertson, considered the top reliever still available on the market. While no serious discussions have occurred yet, a return to Philadelphia for the 40-year-old — who has previously pitched for the team in 2019 and 2022 remains a real possibility.
Even if the Phillies do re-sign Robertson, it’s unlikely that he alone will be enough to fortify a bullpen that has struggled to close games. As such, the team may consider additional trade options, potentially using pitching prospect Mick Abel as a key bargaining chip.
Tim Kelly of On Pattison suggested that the Phillies could capitalize on Abel’s strong recent outing six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in a spot start against the Pirates — to increase his trade value. A former first-round pick, Abel had a rough year in Triple-A in 2023 but has shown improvement this season.
With Aaron Nola currently on the injured list and the rotation already showing depth, the Phillies might find Abel’s greatest value in what he can fetch in a trade. As they look to solidify their bullpen for a playoff push, dealing Abel could help land a high-impact reliever before the July 31 deadline.
