Phillies Bring Back Veteran Reliever David Robertson
The Philadelphia Phillies have added veteran reliever David Robertson to their roster, recalling the 40-year-old from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday. This move comes just three weeks after he signed a free-agent contract with the team, currently leading the National League East.
During his time with Lehigh Valley, Robertson made six appearances, posting a 10.13 ERA. Despite the high earned run average, he managed to deliver four scoreless outings, striking out six batters while allowing 11 hits and six runs over 5 1/3 innings.
As the Phillies prepared for their series finale against Texas, they looked to leverage Robertson's experience. Last season, he recorded a 3.00 ERA in 68 games, finishing with a 3-4 record against the Rangers.
"To start out with I'd like to just kind of ease him in a little bit, a little lower-leverage, but we might be forced to run him out there in high-leverage, who knows," said manager Rob Thomson, hinting at the potential for Robertson to step into critical situations.
To accommodate Robertson's return, right-hander Alan Rangel was optioned back to Triple-A, adjusting the 26-man roster accordingly.
Robertson's career spans 16 years in Major League Baseball, during which he has maintained a solid 2.91 ERA across 861 games, primarily in relief roles. His postseason experience is notable, having participated in nine playoff runs and contributing to the New York Yankees' last World Series championship in 2009.
This marks Robertson's third tenure with the Phillies; he initially joined as a free agent before the 2019 season and was later acquired from the Chicago Cubs in 2022. The Yankees drafted him in the 17th round of the 2006 amateur draft, where he spent nine seasons over two stints.
"He's a calming influence. He's been through it before, World Series, playoff runs," Thomson remarked. "I think he's a good guy for the younger guys to kind of lean on and learn from," emphasizing Robertson's role as a mentor within the team.
