By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor 
When the Philadelphia Phillies traded Pat Neshek to the Colorado Rockies at last July's non-waiver trade deadline, the veteran reliever said that the Phillies would "probably be his No. 1 destination" if he ever got the chance to pick his team in the future. Neshek got that chance this past offseason and put his money where his mouth was (literally).
According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, the Rockies, who Neshek got the chance to pitch in the postseason with in 2017, offered him more money in their attempt to retain him. He turned it down:
He got $16.25 million over two years from the Phillies, but word is, he could have gotten even more from the Rockies, who chose to gut nuts for pen help in a year where the competition was fierce.
The 37-year-old, who was the Phillies lone All-Star representative in 2017, said in February that he left money on the table to return to Philadelphia.
"We didn't really wait for other teams," Neshek told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki earlier in Spring Training. "I probably left a little bit more on the table from other teams. Well, I know I did because a team called me after I agreed [to a deal with the Phillies]. Their first offer was better, but it was a comfort thing. I was really happy with the offer. I didn't want to wait and see anything else."
While it's perhaps even more noteworthy that he turned down the chance to make slightly more money on a team that made the playoffs in 2017, it probably shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Neshek seemed to genuinely enjoy his first stint with the Phillies.
"I felt really comfortable [with the Phillies] – my family loved it [Philadelphia], we loved where we lived," Neshek told the collective media following his trade to the Rockies last July. "I enjoyed all my teammates, more so that a lot of places. So, I'd love to come back, maybe."
In 43 appearances for the Phillies in 2017, Neshek posted a 1.12 ERA and a 1.94 FIP, allowing him to make his second career All-Star team. The Phillies also added Tommy Hunter on a lucrative free-agent contract this offseason. Those two veterans, on top of Hector Neris, Luis Garcia, Hoby Milner and Adam Morgan, all of whom had very strong second halves of the 2017 season, could allow the Phillies to have a dominant bullpen in 2018.
Some would argue that Neshek and the Phillies potentially elite bullpen will have to make up for a starting rotation that, save for Aaron Nola, is unlikely to regularly pitch deep into games. For his part, Neshek thinks that the Phillies are closer to contending than most do, which is perhaps part of the reason he was so eager to return to Philadelphia.
"Last year was kind of messy, but I feel like we're way ahead of where Houston was [in 2015]," Neshek told MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince earlier this month. "I know they have the money to add if we start winning. And the National League East isn't that great this year."
