The Phillies don’t just need bullpen help this winter. They need relievers who have already shown they can survive the pressure cooker when the calendar flips and every pitch gets louder.
That’s the frustration hanging over Philadelphia right now. The starting rotation has carried the October load over the last three years, posting a collective 2.96 ERA in 11 postseason games.
The bullpen has not matched that standard, sitting at a 6.28 ERA over 43 innings in that same stretch. The underlying numbers are better than the raw results - a 4.34 xFIP and 3.92 SIERA soften the blow a bit - but the message stays the same.
If the Phillies want a real postseason run, they need a better relief corps than the one they brought into the 2026 playoffs.
That makes this winter’s market especially interesting, because some of the best relief options come with one very specific selling point: they’ve already done the job in October.
Jojo Romero is one of the names worth monitoring, even with his current team still alive. The former Phillie has rebuilt his value over the last three seasons, and since 2024 he owns a 2.68 ERA across 117.1 innings.
In this postseason, he’s thrown 5.1 innings and allowed one run, with nine strikeouts against just one walk. The concern is familiar: his advanced numbers don’t fully buy the breakout, and he’s never posted a K/9 above 9.0 in a full season.
Still, the results are there, and that usually means a payday.
Adrian Morejon profiles as one of the most attractive left-handed relievers available. Since 2024, he’s put up a 2.58 ERA and 2.46 FIP with the Padres, and he’s been almost untouchable in October, allowing just one run in 8.1 postseason innings over the last two seasons.
He also handled a heavy workload in 2026, logging 86.0 innings after throwing 73.2 last year. The underlying metrics are elite across the board, with his Baseball Savant page lighting up red and top-of-the-league rankings in xERA, fastball velo, chase rate, whiff rate, barrel rate, and ground ball rate.
Jason Adam brings a different kind of appeal. He only threw 3.1 postseason innings this year, but his playoff record is hard to ignore: a 2.53 ERA in 10 career postseason games since 2022, with eight strikeouts and only two walks.
The 35-year-old has been excellent for years, carrying a 2.13 ERA over the last five seasons. There’s a chance a team is buying the back of the baseball card more than what comes next, but in October, he still gets the job done.
Paul Blackburn is the reliever who completely changed his career arc this year. After nine seasons as a middling starter, he found real success out of the bullpen, posting a 1.69 ERA over 85 regular-season innings.
He followed that with six scoreless postseason innings, allowing only two of the 19 batters he faced to reach base. There are fair Brad Keller comparisons here, but the bigger point is simpler: a pitcher who reinvented himself and kept producing should be on Philadelphia’s radar.
Alex Vesia may be the most postseason-proven lefty in the group. Since 2021, he has appeared in 31 playoff games and posted a 1.59 ERA.
This year, he added five scoreless outings to that resume. Because of his history with the Dodgers, he’ll likely take their best offer if he reaches the market, but the Phillies should still make the call and see whether they can pry him away.
Phillips also belongs in this conversation after a postseason run that only adds to his reputation. He has never allowed a run in the playoffs across 17 appearances over five seasons.
Since joining Los Angeles in 2021, he has been one of the sport’s most effective October relievers, even if his name doesn’t carry the same shine as Shohei Ohtani’s or Junior Caminero’s. He missed the 2025 playoffs and most of the 2025 and 26 regular seasons because of a torn UCL, but he came back and delivered 3.0 more scoreless innings against the Braves and Brewers this year.
In Other News...
Alec Bohm Could Decide How The Phillies Infield Finally Shifts
The Phillies offseason puzzle is not limited to finding right-handed power for the outfield. Alec Bohm looms as one of the more important moving parts, with the club expected to make him a qualifying offer and then wait to see how he responds. For a team trying to keep its lineup competitive while also creating some flexibility, Bohms status could shape more than just the infield picture.
Cole Weintraub of NBC Sports Philadelphia predicted Bohm would accept the one-year, $23.15 million deal, a result that would keep Philadelphia from having to sort out a bigger long-term question right away. It also ties into the organizations timeline with top prospect Aidan Miller, since the Phillies next steps could depend on how quickly they believe he is ready and how much room they want to preserve while they pursue other upgrades. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Suddenly Have A Real Decision To Make At Catcher
The Phillies are once again staring at a familiar question behind the plate after another postseason exit arrived earlier than hoped. J.T. Realmuto remains the centerpiece of the discussion, but his 2026 season was a clear step backward offensively, with a .205/.283/.331 line, 11 home runs and 51 RBIs, leaving him at 0.0 bWAR and forcing a harder look at a position the club has leaned on for years.
Philadelphia has to weigh a tricky mix of contract, age and production as it maps out next season. The organization can hope Realmuto bounces back and stabilizes the spot, but the recent dip makes it impossible to ignore the need for a real upgrade plan if the Phillies want to avoid another October ending that feels too familiar. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Prospect Will Gasparino Has One Skill Left To Unlock
Will Gasparino already has the kind of frame and foundation that gets a scout's attention, and the Phillies have reason to be intrigued by what he could become. The 6-foot-6 outfielder came out of UCLA with a strong collegiate track record, and in the minors he has shown the sort of plate discipline and defensive ability that keep a prospect moving forward even before the bat fully catches up.
What remains is the last piece of the package, the raw power that has not yet shown up consistently in pro ball. Gasparino did announce himself with a grand slam as his first hit in the Phillies system, a reminder of the damage he can do when everything clicks. If that tool continues to develop while the rest of his game holds steady, he has a path toward the Major Leagues that starts to look a lot more real. [Read more 🡒]