Phillies Looking for High-Leverage Reliever
David Robertson for $6 million on Monday, the Philadelphia Phillies remain on the hunt for a high-leverage reliever, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Nightengale doesn't name any specific targets, but Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax of the Minnesota Twins, David Bednar (Pittsburgh Pirates), and Ryan Helsley (St. Louis Cardinals) are just a handful of relievers who could pique the team's interest before the July 31 trade deadline. The Phillies hold a National League wild-card spot and are a mere half-game behind the New York Mets in the NL East, but their bullpen ranks a suspect 22nd in the majors in ERA (4.27). Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering, and Tanner Banks have been the most reliable relievers in a shaky group. Jose Alvarado got off to a great start this year, but the league handed him an 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs in May. While Alvarado is eligible to return Aug. 19, he's barred from pitching in this year's playoffs as a result of the suspension. That gives the Phillies all the more reason to seek late-game reinforcements.
Source: Bob Nightengale
Even after signing veteran right-hander Source: Bob Nightengale
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