Inside The Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies Can Pursue Free Agent All-Star Closer to Bolster Bullpen

The Philadelphia Phillies need bullpen help and one solution may have just presented itself.
Kade Kistner|
Philadelphia Phillies Can Pursue Free Agent All-Star Closer to Bolster Bullpen
Philadelphia Phillies Can Pursue Free Agent All-Star Closer to Bolster Bullpen

In this story:

Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are struggling in all phases of their game right now. The offense is sluggish, the rotation can't seem to string together quality starts and the bullpen sits with the 20th-best ERA in baseball at 4.21.

It's not going great.

But there could be an easy solution to one of their problems. 

Former Phillie and MLB All-Star Corey Knebel is available as a free agent.

Phillies fans will remember that Philadelphia signed Knebel to a one-year, $10 million deal last year and pitched well before having his season ended with injury.

Knebel compiled a 3.43 ERA, 4.46 FIP and 12 saves in 44.2 innings pitched last season for the Phillies. He was more than serviceable. 

Now, he is healthy and available and could be exactly what Philadelphia needs to help revive its bullpen that has seen Jose Alvarado out with injury, and Gregory Soto, Craig Kimbrel and Seranthony Dominguez all struggle. 

Bringing in a veteran presence like Knebel, who at 31-years-old and a power fastball, can still help an MLB club. 

Adding Knebel would not require a trade or swap of prospects. It would be a simple free agent deal and he should come at a more reasonable price than what he signed for last season. 

It is a move worth exploring for the Phillies front office, especially considering the current state of affairs around the club.

More From SI's Inside The Phillies:

Published
Kade Kistner
KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl.  During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated.  Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.

Home/News