David Robertson's second stint with the New York Yankees has come to an end as the veteran right handed reliever has signed a 2-year, $23 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Robertson, who turns 34 in April, represented himself as a free agent and appears to have found a team willing to give him another chance to close. The Phillies, while much improved in 2018, did not have a reliable closer starting with Hector Neris before turning to Seranthony Dominguez saving 11 and 16 games, respectively. In 2018, Robertson appeared in 69 games primarily as a middle reliever. While he did save five games, he went 8-3 with a 3.23 ERA striking out 91 batters in only 69.2 innings pitched. Robertson served as the Yankees closer in 2014 after Mariano Rivera's retirement saving a career best 39 games before signing a free agent contract with the Chicago White Sox saving 34 and 37 games in 2015 and 2016 before returning to the Yankees during the stretch run in 2017. In 11 big league seasons, Robertson is 53-32 with a 2.88 ERA with 137 saves along with 874 strikeouts in only 657 innings pitched.
The Alabama born Robertson will be missed in the Yankees bullpen. It's easy to get overshadowed in a bullpen with Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances, but Robertson gets the job done whatever job you ask him to do. His experience will benefit the young Phillies club immensely.
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