Phillies Bullpen Overhaul: Will Philadelphia Invest Big in the Pen This Offseason?
The Phillies are entering a critical offseason, with their bullpen being one of the main areas that need to be addressed. The team's pitching staff showed flashes of brilliance last season, but ultimately failed to live up to expectations when it mattered most.
In 2025, Jhoan Duran and Orion Kerkering led the charge out of the bullpen, while Matt Strahm, José Alvarado, and Tanner Banks provided crucial support. However, it's clear that the Phillies can't rely solely on their current crop of relievers to carry them to a championship.
The team is set to lose several key arms from last season's bullpen, including right-hander Max Lazar and southpaw Daniel Robert. This creates an opportunity for the Phillies to go out and upgrade their pitching staff, potentially with a pair of top-tier free agents.
One name that has been floated as a potential target is veteran closer Kenley Jansen. The three-time All-Star has been in top form, posting a 2.59 ERA over his last season and saving 28 games for the Angels. While he's not getting any younger, the Phillies may be willing to take a chance on him.
Another option that could make sense is Ryan Helsley, who had an incredible stretch of dominance in 2024 but struggled after being traded mid-season. If the Phillies can get him on a reasonable deal, they might have landed themselves a top-notch reliever.
The Phillies are also likely to explore options from the middle relief market, where players like Kyle Finnegan and Jakob Junis could provide them with some much-needed depth. Both of these arms have shown flashes of brilliance in their careers, but have struggled at times as well.
Of course, there's always a risk that veteran relievers can decline rapidly, as we've seen with the likes of Tommy Kahnle and Kirby Yates. However, for players like Helsley and Finnegan, who have consistently produced at an elite level, the reward could be worth the risk.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen what the Phillies will do this offseason in terms of bolstering their bullpen. One thing is certain, however - they'll need to act quickly if they want to avoid being left behind by more aggressive teams looking to make a push for the playoffs.
With Jansen and Helsley as potential targets, the question on everyone's mind is: will the Phillies take the plunge and sign a top-tier reliever this offseason? Only time will tell.
The Phillies are entering a critical offseason, with their bullpen being one of the main areas that need to be addressed. The team's pitching staff showed flashes of brilliance last season, but ultimately failed to live up to expectations when it mattered most.
In 2025, Jhoan Duran and Orion Kerkering led the charge out of the bullpen, while Matt Strahm, José Alvarado, and Tanner Banks provided crucial support. However, it's clear that the Phillies can't rely solely on their current crop of relievers to carry them to a championship.
The team is set to lose several key arms from last season's bullpen, including right-hander Max Lazar and southpaw Daniel Robert. This creates an opportunity for the Phillies to go out and upgrade their pitching staff, potentially with a pair of top-tier free agents.
One name that has been floated as a potential target is veteran closer Kenley Jansen. The three-time All-Star has been in top form, posting a 2.59 ERA over his last season and saving 28 games for the Angels. While he's not getting any younger, the Phillies may be willing to take a chance on him.
Another option that could make sense is Ryan Helsley, who had an incredible stretch of dominance in 2024 but struggled after being traded mid-season. If the Phillies can get him on a reasonable deal, they might have landed themselves a top-notch reliever.
The Phillies are also likely to explore options from the middle relief market, where players like Kyle Finnegan and Jakob Junis could provide them with some much-needed depth. Both of these arms have shown flashes of brilliance in their careers, but have struggled at times as well.
Of course, there's always a risk that veteran relievers can decline rapidly, as we've seen with the likes of Tommy Kahnle and Kirby Yates. However, for players like Helsley and Finnegan, who have consistently produced at an elite level, the reward could be worth the risk.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen what the Phillies will do this offseason in terms of bolstering their bullpen. One thing is certain, however - they'll need to act quickly if they want to avoid being left behind by more aggressive teams looking to make a push for the playoffs.
With Jansen and Helsley as potential targets, the question on everyone's mind is: will the Phillies take the plunge and sign a top-tier reliever this offseason? Only time will tell.
The Phillies are in a tough spot right now because they're trying to upgrade their bullpen with big-name players 
, but the question is whether they'll take the risk and go for it or play it safe 
. It's like when you're making a life-changing decision - do you go all-in or play it cool? 
Either way, you gotta be willing to take the leap of faith 
. The thing is, not taking a chance can lead to missing out on something big 
, but overpaying for someone who might not live up to expectations can also be a financial disaster 
.
I mean, we all saw what happened last season and it's not exactly a confidence booster. But on the other hand, if they can land Kenley Jansen or Ryan Helsley, OMG YES PLEASE!!! 
They're like the dynamic duo of bullpens! 
And I know some ppl are worried about veteran relievers declining, but I think the Phillies have a good eye for talent and they'll make it work. 
The question is, will they take the plunge and sign someone top-tier this offseason? 
. Can't they just focus on developing their own talent for once? I mean, the Phillies are losing key arms and it's like they're just throwing money at the problem without thinking about what the future holds 
. What if they can't afford to keep Jansen or Helsley long-term? It's all just a gamble, and I'm not convinced it'll pay off 
.
. Players like Finnegan and Junis are decent, but are they really worth the risk? Can't we see some teams taking a more balanced approach to building their bullpens instead of just trying to sign someone who's going to be available for a hot second 
?
.
the thing is, their pitchers have shown flashes of brilliance before only to decline mid-season, like finnegan last year 
I think they gotta go big or go home if they wanna make some noise in the playoffs. Kenley Jansen would be an AMAZING addition to that crew - his numbers are insane and he's still got that fire 
Ryan Helsley is another guy who could make some sense, I think he's still got some great stuff in him and they might be able to get him on a deal that makes sense for both sides. 
. The guy's been dominating for years and I think Philly needs someone to anchor their bullpen, you know? It's like they're stuck in neutral right now with a bunch of good but not great relievers. And don't even get me started on Ryan Helsley - that dude's got crazy stuff 
. Of course, there's always the risk of veteran relievers tanking, but with guys like Helsley and Finnegan on the table, I think Philly's got a shot at pulling off some magic 
.
. On the other hand, Ryan Helsley has been solid at times, but his inconsistency is a major red flag 
. I'd love to see the Phillies explore some more affordable options from the middle relief market, though - guys like Kyle Finnegan or Jakob Junis could bring some much-needed depth without breaking the bank 
. ryan helsley could be a great mid-season pickup tho, he's shown crazy stuff when healthy 
. gotta see what they do, can't rely on those youngins in the bullpen 
could provide some depth, but not as flashy as top-tier closers 
. Phillies have to act fast 
.
4-6 million for Kenley Jansen might be steep, but think of the playoff runs he's had before 