The Philadelphia Phillies have emerged as serious contenders in the National League East this season, largely thanks to the strength of their starting rotation. Aside from a tough outing by Jesús Luzardo against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, the rotation has been consistent, with a 3.62 ERA—good for 11th in the league as of Monday.
The bullpen, however, has been a weak spot. Entering Monday, Philadelphia’s relievers ranked 25th with a 4.65 ERA. Their situation worsened when Jose Alvarado received an 80-game suspension for violating MLB’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
While the team has explored the possibility of bringing back David Robertson, negotiations have stalled over financial terms, leaving the bullpen in an unsettled state heading into June.
However, the Phillies might have a new opportunity, as a recently available player could serve as a reclamation project if they choose to pursue him.
Phillies Should Take a Chance on Former Blue Jays Reliever Josè Ureña
The Toronto Blue Jays announced Monday that right-handed reliever José Ureña has cleared waivers and opted for free agency after being designated for assignment on May 31. The 33-year-old had already played for two teams this season and gave up five earned runs over 12.1 innings before being let go by Toronto over the weekend.
Ureña’s overall performance hasn’t inspired much confidence, with a 6.16 FIP during his time with the Blue Jays and a 7.06 FIP for the season. However, some of his advanced metrics from Baseball Savant offer a glimmer of hope, including an average fastball velocity of 96.3 mph, a 33.3% chase rate, and a 5.8% walk rate. He also found success last season, posting a 3.80 ERA over 33 appearances (nine starts) with the Texas Rangers.
While Ureña is unlikely to be a major bullpen upgrade, he could serve as a stopgap option for the Phillies as they look for reinforcements. With José Alvarado ineligible for the postseason due to suspension and Jordan Romano still struggling despite recent improvement (7.36 ERA as of Monday), Philadelphia’s bullpen is in need of help. Carlos Hernández’s 6.14 ERA only adds to the concern.
Whether Ureña can be part of the solution remains uncertain, but the Phillies may need to turn to the waiver wire soon if they hope to shore up their relief corps before the trade deadline.
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