The Phillies signed David Robertson this offseason to steady a rocky bullpen. His 2.59 ERA, 1.068 WHIP, and 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 520 appearances since 2011 provided more than enough of a track record. His two-year, $21 million contract with a $12 million team option for 2021 was viewed as one of the better contracts of the offseason.
Robertson was promised a high-leverage, late-inning role before signing, as to be expected given his career numbers. Him, Seranthony Dominguez, Hector Neris, and Pat Neshek were expected to be the key late-inning relievers for the team.