As spring training looms and the Phillies gear up for another run in 2026, the club made a move Tuesday that could quietly pay dividends down the line. Right-hander Daniel Robert is returning to the organization on a minor league deal with an invite to big league camp, giving Philadelphia another bullpen option to evaluate as they set the tone for a season that carries high expectations-and a bit of baggage.
Robert, 31, is no stranger to this Phillies team. He came over from the Rangers before the 2025 season and made 15 appearances out of the pen, posting a 4.15 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 13 innings. The stuff was there in flashes-he showed the kind of velocity and movement that can miss bats-but a right forearm strain sent him to the injured list, and he was ultimately non-tendered earlier this offseason.
Now healthy and back in the fold, Robert will look to prove he belongs in a bullpen that’s undergone some changes. With Ranger Suárez departing in free agency to join the Red Sox, the Phillies are in the market for reliable arms-especially ones who can handle high-leverage innings. Robert’s path to a roster spot isn’t guaranteed, but if he can flash the kind of swing-and-miss potential he hinted at last year, he could force his way into the conversation.
For Philadelphia, the bullpen remains a key piece of the puzzle. The team has made the postseason four straight years, but October has been unkind. Last year’s NLDS loss to the eventual champion Dodgers still stings-particularly after dropping the first two games at home, clawing back in Game 3, and then watching it all unravel in Game 4 on a costly pitching miscue.
That kind of heartbreak has become a pattern the Phillies are desperate to break. They’ve built a roster capable of contending, but the margins in the playoffs are razor-thin, and bullpen depth can be the difference between a champagne celebration and an early exit.
So while Daniel Robert’s return might not grab headlines, it’s the kind of move that speaks to where the Phillies are right now: a team with unfinished business, looking for any edge they can find. Spring training kicks off later this month, and Robert will be one of several arms trying to seize an opportunity. If he can stay healthy and find his rhythm, he just might become a meaningful piece of the Phillies’ 2026 campaign.