After last season’s bullpen debacle, it was a priority for General Manager Matt Klentak to either sign or tr
ade for some competent bullpen arms. Less than 48-hours after the 2016 World Series concluded, the Phillies’ first move to address the bullpen was trading for Pat Neshek from Houston, who had a career 2.93 ERA in 10 major league seasons. His career ERA has dipped to 2.86, thanks to 9.2 scoreless (11 appearances) innings in 2017.
Then Klentak added 39-year-old Joaquin Benoit for a hefty $7.5 million. But, over the last seven years, Benoit’s ERA is 2.