The Philadelphia Phillies have signed RHP David Robertson to a two-year $23MM contract with a club option for a third year valued at $12MM. If the Phillies exercise the 2021 club option it will make the contract three-years and $33MM. If they do not exercise the option Robertson will receive a $2MM buyout which is already factored into the two-year $23MM contract as he is receiving $10MM and $11MM salaries in 2020 and 2021 respectively. There are also a wide range of incentives in the deal.
The 33-year old Robertson has been a solid reliever over his 11-year career with the Yankees and White Sox. He has been extremely consistent and very reliable appearing in 60+ games and 60+ innings since 2010 and never having an ERA over 4.00 since his rookie campaign. Robertson is a late inning threat that the Phillies surely need as the bullpen had a 4.19 ERA and was clearly a weakness for them last year. Robertson brings a 2.88 lifetime ERA along with 137 career saves to Philadelphia. It is not known if the Phillies will be deploying him as their closer or if they have yet another big splash to make in the free agent market with a few notable closers still left on the market. Either way Robertson represents a nice boost to the Phillies relief corps whether he is closing or pitching in a setup type capacity.
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