Phillies seek pitcher who can cover 30+ innings in 2027

The Philadelphia Phillies will prioritize adding a pitcher who can handle multiple innings in the bullpen or make a start without a long ramp-up period when they open free agency negotiations for the 2027 season.

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made the distinction at the club's end-of-season press conference. He said the team does not need another pitcher who requires a permanent rotation spot. Instead, the front office is looking for depth that can cover gaps when the primary five-man group is unavailable.

The need for this flexibility became clear during the 2026 season. When Andrew Painter was optioned to Triple-A in June, the Phillies exposed a thin bench behind their top starters. Across the 16 games not started by Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola or Painter, the team went 2-14. The pitchers used in the starting slot combined for a 7.01 ERA and a 1.85 WHIP in those games.

The situation stabilized when Painter returned on July 31. He posted a 3.65 ERA over his final 11 starts, including a 3.27 mark with 44 strikeouts in 41 one-third innings across his final seven appearances. Aaron Nola also rebounded in the second half, improving from a 5.75 first-half ERA to a 3.34 mark after the All-Star break. Dombrowski described the projected rotation entering 2027 as a very good place to start.

The Phillies have tried to solve this problem by signing veterans late in previous seasons. In 2024, they signed Spencer Turnbull to a one-year, $2 million contract. He replaced an injured Taijuan Walker and recorded a 1.67 ERA over six starts before moving to the bullpen. A similar move occurred in 2025 when the club signed Walker Buehler to a minor-league deal two days after the Boston Red Sox released him. Buehler recorded a 0.66 ERA over 13 two-thirds innings in September.

In 2026, the team returned to the late-season market after not adding comparable depth during the winter. They signed veteran left-hander Nestor Cortes on August 19, even though he had not pitched in a professional game all year. Cortes made three appearances for Lehigh Valley but never reached the majors. After Luzardo went on the injured list with shoulder inflammation in September, the Phillies claimed José Urquidy off waivers from the White Sox. Urquidy provided seven one-third innings over two appearances but was ineligible for the postseason.

The organization’s upper-level alternatives offered limited reassurance. Alan Rangel finished the 2026 season with a 5.88 ERA over 26 major-league innings. Brian Keller allowed one run over three innings in his lone appearance for Philadelphia but posted a 6.62 ERA in 17 starts for Lehigh Valley. Chuck King was the only IronPigs pitcher to make at least 10 starts and finish with an ERA below 5.00.

The Phillies are evaluating four possible fits for this role. Ryan Yarbrough offers a low-cost option. The left-hander, who turns 35 in December, finished with a 3.69 ERA over 63 one-third innings for the Yankees. He has made 78 career starts and earned $2.5 million last season. Cal Quantrill carries the strongest recent results. He went 9-5 with a 2.86 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 110 innings for Texas after returning on a minor-league contract.

Erick Fedde handled a balanced workload for the White Sox, throwing 141 innings split between 15 starts and 18 relief appearances. He posted a 3.86 ERA from the rotation and a 3.80 mark out of the bullpen. Drew Anderson would be the most expensive option if he becomes available. The right-hander posted a 3.67 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 114 strikeouts over 108 innings for Detroit. Detroit holds a $10 million club option for 2027 after paying Anderson $7 million last season.

The Phillies have other expensive needs this winter, including a right-handed hitter and multiple bullpen additions. A pitcher from this group would give manager Don Mattingly a multi-inning option when the rotation is intact and a traditional starter when it is not. The front office aims to address this job before another injury forces them back into the market.