The Phillies are searching everywhere they can think of for bullpen help and hope they may have found at least one piece in the scrap heap. The team agreed to a major league contract with two-time former Phillies reliever David Robertson, who became a free agent following the 2024 season and had not signed with a team. The right-hander held a workout for interested clubs – one of which was the Phillies – which led to him signing the deal.

The deal will pay Robertson just over $6-million for the rest of the season as a pro-rated amount of a $16-million one-year deal. Robertson has stayed in shape during his layoff from baseball and agreed to be optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to get himself in game shape. There is no immediate timetable for his return to the majors.

Last season, Robertson pitched for the Texas Rangers and finished with a 3.00 ERA and 34 holds covering 72 innings. He also posted a well above average 33.9 strikeout percentage and a 9.1 percent walk rate.

The 40-year-old first pitched with the Phillies after signing a two-year, $23-million deal leading up to the 2019 season, but needed Tommy John surgery and finished his two seasons with the Phillies with just 6.2 innings of work. In 2022, the Phillies acquired him for a second time when they sent pitcher Ben Brown to the Cubs for Robertson, who made 22 relief appearances with the Phillies and recorded six saves and a 2.70 ERA helping the team to reach the World Series. Following the season, Robertson became a free agent and signed with the Mets.

There are no lingering effects of the Tommy John surgery as Robertson has pitched in 200 games, throwing 213 innings with 274 strikeouts, 40 saves, and a 2.92 ERA with the Cubs, Marlins, Mets, Phillies, Rays, and Rangers.