The free agent reliever market has been heating up over the last 48 hours, and it appears the Phillies are ready to jump in. On Thursday evening, reports began to come in that former Reds’ reliever Archie Bradley was nearing a deal with an unknown team.
Moments later, the Phillies were identified as that team, signing a one-year, $6 million deal.
Archie Bradley is a six-year veteran, having begun his career as a starter with the Arizona Diamondbacks before transitioning to the bullpen in 2017. Since then, the 28-year-old has not looked back, with a career 2.82 ERA and a 9.9 SO/9 as a reliever. The Oklahoma native earned six saves in 2020 with the Diamondbacks before being traded to the Reds, where Rasiel Iglesias acted as closer.
Bradley pitched for a 2.95 overall ERA in 2020. He allowed only six earned runs in 18.1 innings pitched while striking out 18 batters. The reliever utlizies a 94 MPH fastball with an 86 MPH changeup and a curveball sitting at 80 MPH. He has also introduced a sinker over the last few seasons that he will use on occasion.
This signing by the Phillies bolsters the bullpen following a historically bad performance in 2020. Bradley will likely act as the team’s closer, allowing Hector Neris to act as set-up man. He will be joined on the Phillies by new relievers Jose Alvarado and Sam Coonrod, as well as former Reds’ assistant pitching coach Caleb Cotham.
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