Report: Phillies Targeting ‘Virtually Every Dominant Back-End Reliever’

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

In addition to Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and left-handed starting pitching, another desired upgrade to the Philadelphia Phillies 2019 25-man roster is back-end relievers. The club is "in touch with the agents for virtually every dominant back-end reliever," according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal on Thursday.

Rosenthal lists three specific names to fit the bill: Craig Kimbrel, Zach Britton and Andrew Miller. "Britton, like Machado, is familiar to Phillies executives, a number of whom previously worked for the Orioles, Britton’s original team," writes Rosenthal. "The Phillies do not lack talent in their bullpen, but an established late-inning type would provide stability and reduce the pressure on younger relievers."

Phillies General Manager Matt Klentak has repeated this offseason the club is eyeing to "move the needle" further to contention in ways that make sense for the club. One way to do that, per Klentak, is signing a "mega contract" — Harper and/or Machado.

Another way Klentak said the club can move the needle is through signing a "dominant" back-end reliever:

“We’re looking for areas where we can move the needle and find an upgrade,” general manager Matt Klentak told reporters Wednesday. “If there’s a backend reliever that’s a good fit for our roster and is willing to come on what we deem to be a reasonable term and contract then we’re going to explore that.

“I’m not committed to adding a player in any one particular area. But we’re committed to exploring everything and finding the players that make the most sense for us. So we’re going to talk to impact relievers this offseason. I don’t know if we’ll sign one, but we’re going to explore that because that might be a fit that makes sense for us.”

Kimbrel, 30, is a seven-time All-Star, posting a 31-19 record, 1.91 ERA, 868-205 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 0.920 WHIP spanning nine seasons since debuting with the Atlanta Braves in 2010. Britton, 30, was among the Phillies many July 2018 trade deadline targets, however the southpaw ultimately was dealt to the New York Yankees. In both of Britton's two All-Star seasons (2015, 2016), he led the American League in games finished (58, 63). While older, Miller, 33, is a former American League Championship Series MVP and a 13-year veteran with a career 3.98 ERA. His only three seasons in the National League came in 2008-10 with the then-Florida Marlins.

Phillies relievers posted a National League fifth-worst 4.19 ERA last season. Adding either Kimbrel, Britton or Miller to the mix would surely sure-up the latter innings.