Phillies Strengthen Bullpen with Robertson Signing, Seeking Additional Relievers

The Philadelphia Phillies are aggressively addressing bullpen weaknesses as they contend in the 2025 NL East race, currently trailing the Mets by 1.5 games. Despite signing veteran reliever David Robertson to a one-year deal to bolster the bullpen, the team continues to seek additional high-leverage arms before the July 31 trade deadline due to struggles from closer Jordan Romano and the suspension of Jose Alvarado. ESPN analyst Eric Karabell suggested a trade acquiring David Bednar and Dennis Santana from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for catching prospect Eduardo Tait, which would strengthen Philadelphia's late-inning relief options. Other bullpen targets include Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran, who could command a significant trade package due to his elite fastball and remaining team control. With the offense and starting rotation performing well, Phillies management is prioritizing relief pitching improvements to avoid a repeat of their previous postseason bullpen failures. The team has multiple bullpen options available in the market and is expected to make moves to solidify their roster for a deep playoff run.