Tyler Trumbauer
According to a report by the Associated Press, the Phillies and reliever Joaquin Benoit have come to terms on a one-year deal worth $7.5 million. The deal was first reported to be imminent by Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly on Sunday night.
Benoit is a 39-year old right handed reliever who was 3-1 last year with a 2.81 ERA in 48 innings of work. He started the 2016 season with the Seattle Mariners and was traded in July to the Toronto Blue Jays for Drew Storen. The Phillies would be Benoit’s third team in five months.
For his career, Benoit has a 3.79 ERA and averages 63 games per season. The un-drafted free agent also has played for the Texas Rangers, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Detroit Tigers, and the San Diego Padres in his career.
This would be the third move general manager Matt Klentak has made to help bolster a bullpen that was a pleasant surprise and actually a strength for a good portion of last season. Klentak acquired Pat Neshek in November to start the efforts in the bullpen. Additionally, the Phillies claimed David Rollins off of waivers last week to help to bullpen and designated Cody Asche for assignment, to make room for Rollins, which made Asche a free agent.