Phillies' David Robertson: Collects hold in return
Rotowire
Robertson picked up a hold in Monday's 4-1 victory over the Reds, allowing one hit and one walk in a scoreless inning with one strikeout.
The grizzled veteran averaged 90.7 mph on his cutter, down 2.6 mph from 2024, in his first big-league appearance this season after joining the Phillies on Sunday. Robertson tallied his 197th career hold, as he worked the eighth inning to set up Orion Kerkering for the save. The 40-year-old will likely work as a bridge to Kerkering and Jhoan Duran, so Robertson is worthy of consideration in leagues that value holds.
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Phillies' David Robertson: Joining big club
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The Phillies recalled Robertson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Sunday.
Robertson agreed to a one-year deal with Philadelphia on July 20 and agreed to report to Triple-A as part of his ramp-up process. Over five outings with Lehigh Valley, the veteran righty allowed six earned runs on 11 hits over 5.1 frames, but he struck out three over 1.2 scoreless innings in his last two appearances. Trade-deadline acquisition Jhoan Duran is locked in as the team's new closer, but Robertson could find a spot as part of the bridge to the ninth inning.
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Phillies' David Robertson: Expected to join big club Sunday
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Manager Rob Thomson said Friday that he expects Robertson to join the active roster Sunday, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.
Robertson reported to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after signing a one-year deal with the Phillies on July 21. He's had mixed results with the IronPigs, surrendering three runs in one inning during two of his six minor-league outings while going without an earned run allowed during his other four. Despite his inconsistent performance, the 40-year-old veteran will nab a spot in Philadelphia's bullpen and is likely ticketed for a middle-relief role.
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Phillies' David Robertson: Reporting to Triple-A
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The Phillies signed Robertson to a one-year contract Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Robertson's deal is worth a prorated $16 million, so the veteran right-hander will take home approximately $6 million in salary. The Phillies, meanwhile, will be on the hook for approximately $12 million, with that figure also accounting for a tax they must pay on every dollar for being over the fourth luxury-tax threshold. Because Robertson had been unsigned since the winter, he'll accept an optional assignment to Triple-A, where he'll likely make multiple appearances as part of his ramp-up process before presumably joining the big club when he's first eligible Aug. 5. After notching 35 holds and two saves while pitching to a 3.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 72 innings with the Rangers in 2024, the 40-year-old Robertson should eventually get the chance to work his way into a late-inning role for Philadelphia. Since Jose Alvarado was handed an 80-game suspension May 18, the Phillies have been taking a committee approach at closer, with Matt Strahm (four saves), Jordan Romano (four) and Orion Kerkering (two) having seen most of those opportunities.
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Phillies' David Robertson: Strikes deal with Philadelphia
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Robertson and the Phillies agreed on a one-year, $5 million contract Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Robertson has remained a free agent to this point in 2025, but after holding a throwing showcase in Rhode Island on Saturday, he has now secured a contract. The 40-year-old right-hander will be heading into his third stint with Philadelphia during his robust 16-year major-league career, most recently pitching for the team in 2022. Despite his advanced age, Robertson still proved to be an excellent late-inning weapon for the Rangers in 2024, posting a 3.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 99 strikeouts over 72 innings. He could eventually factor into the mix for saves in the unsettled Philadelphia bullpen, with manager Rob Thomson having taken a committee approach at closer since Jose Alvarado received an 80-game suspension May 18.
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David Robertson: Throwing for teams, could sign soon
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Robertson is expected to hold throwing sessions in front of representatives from multiple teams within the next week, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
Though he turned 40 in April and hasn't pitched in a game since last September, Robertson continues to garner plenty of interest from teams after he compiled a 3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 99:27 K:BB in 72 innings while collecting two saves and 35 holds in 68 appearances for the Rangers a season ago. Robertson declined a $7 million player option in November to become a free agent, and with clubs thus far failing to meet his asking price in free agency, the veteran right-hander has elected to wait for the right opportunity. According to Sammon, the Yankees and Mets are among the teams who have recently checked in with Robertson, and his market could grow bigger once other prominent relievers are dealt elsewhere leading up the July 31 trade deadline.
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David Robertson: Available as Opening Day looms
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Robertson remains one of the more prominent free agents as Opening Day approaches.
Robertson is still without a home for the 2025 season, although he is coming off of a 2024 campaign in which he compiled a 3.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 99 strikeouts, 35 holds and two saves over 72 innings in 68 appearances with the Rangers. The 39-year-old has been one of the most consistent relievers in baseball throughout his 17-year major-league career, and he'll likely find a landing spot sooner rather than later as Opening Day is less than a week away.
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David Robertson: Enters open market
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Robertson declined his $7 million mutual option for 2025 on Saturday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
With a 3.00 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 72 innings, Robertson was one of the Rangers' most reliable high-leverage bullpen arms in 2024. He will turn 40 years old in April, so a multi-year deal likely isn't in the cards for him in free agency, but his consistency and experience make him an attractive target for teams looking to contend for a World Series title in 2025.
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Rangers' David Robertson: Logs six-out save
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Robertson picked up the save Thursday against the White Sox, striking out two batters over two perfect innings.
With Kirby Yates having pitched in three straight games, Robertson stayed on the mound for the ninth inning Thursday to land his second save of the campaign. Robertson has been a solid setup man for the Rangers this season, logging 21 holds in 44.2 innings with a 3.02 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and a 66:13 K:BB.
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Rangers' David Robertson: Escapes jam for hold
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Robertson allowed one hit, hit a batter and struck out three over a scoreless eighth inning Thursday, earning a hold in a 3-1 win over the Dodgers.
Robertson put the first two batters he faced aboard, setting up a rematch with the top of the Dodgers' lineup after he had struck out Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman on Wednesday to preserve a Texas lead. Robertson proceeded to do the same exact thing Thursday. The veteran reliever has 14 holds this season to go with a 3.19 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 36.2 percent strikeout rate, his highest mark since 2017.
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Rangers' David Robertson: Impressively strikes out side
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Robertson earned his 13th hold in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers. He struck out all three batters faced in the eighth inning.
The Rangers were nursing a 3-1 lead when Robertson entered to start the eighth, and the right-hander was impressive, striking out Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman (all swinging). The 39-year-old Robertson has a 3.30 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 43 strikeouts over 30 innings as he continues to operate as the setup man to closer Kirby Yates.
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Rangers' David Robertson: Charged with blown save, loss
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Robertson (2-1) had a blown save and was the losing pitcher in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Rockies. The reliever failed to record an out and was charged with four runs on two hits, a walk and a hit batter.
The usually reliable Robertson entered with the Rangers holding a 3-2 lead, a runner on second base and two outs. As rain began to fall, he yielded a run-scoring single to the first batter he faced. After a wild pitch, another RBI single, a hit batsman and a walk, Robertson was removed with the bases loaded. The right-hander, who entered the game with a 0.87 ERA, threw just 11 strikes among 22 pitches.
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Rangers' David Robertson: Blows save Wednesday
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Robertson gave up a run on two hits and a walk over 1.1 innings Wednesday, getting charged with his second blown save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Tigers. He struck out one.
The veteran right-hander entered the game with one on and one out in the seventh inning to protect a 4-3 lead, and while he escaped that small jam, Robertson couldn't stop Detroit from tying things up in the bottom of the eighth. It's only the second run he's allowed this season, and the 39-year-old has been busy to begin the year, posting a 1.69 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB through 10.2 innings. Despite those strong ratios, he's 0-for-2 in converting save chances while adding a win and six holds in his 10 appearances, while Kirby Yates seems to be strengthening his grip on the closer role for Texas.
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Rangers' David Robertson: Throws scoreless late-game inning
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Robertson worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning in Friday's 12-8 win over the Astros.
Texas was rolling before Houston's five-run seventh inning forced manager Bruce Bochy to use a couple of his trusted arms, including Robertson and Kirby Yates. Both relievers figure to be in the mix for saves following Bochy's decision to move Jose Leclerc to low-leverage situations, as reported by Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com. Wilson described to move as temporary, but there could be permanence if Robertson or Yates seize the opportunity. Robertson has allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out eight over 8.1 innings. Yates has not allowed a run in five outings (five innings).
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Rangers' David Robertson: Strong start to season
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Robertson worked around two hits while striking out one over a scoreless inning in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Rays.
Robertson found himself with runners on the corners and one out before coaxing a shallow flyout off the bat of Yandy Diaz and an Amed Rosario groundout to get out of the inning unscathed. Robertson has been sharp in a setup role to start the season, allowing just three hits and three walks over four scoreless appearances. Meanwhile, Jose Leclerc has struggled early, allowing at least one run in each of his three appearances, leaving an opening for Robertson to work his way into the ninth-inning picture.
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Rangers' David Robertson: Earns win in opener
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Robertson (1-0) picked up the win Thursday, working around a pair of walks in a scoreless inning against the Cubs. He struck out one.
Robertson kept Chicago off the board in the top of the 10th inning, working out of a bases-loaded jam, before Jonah Heim ended the game with a walk-off single in the bottom half of the frame. Jose Leclerc, who allowed a run in the ninth inning Thursday, is the presumed closer in Texas, though Robertson would be next in line and figures to see a fair amount of save chances this year. The 38-year-old right-hander tallied 18 saves across 65.1 innings between the Mets and Marlins last season, posting a 3.03 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 78:25 K:BB.
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Rangers' David Robertson: On track for setup role
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Robertson is poised to begin the season in a setup role after Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Sunday there is a "strong possibility" Jose Leclerc will open as the closer, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Robertson was never likely to fully usurp Leclerc from the job during spring training, but there seemed to be a chance Bochy might utilize a committee approach. Robertson will instead begin the campaign in a setup role, which significantly dampens his fantasy outlook. The 38-year-old is still likely to be the next man up and should see occasional save chances even if Leclerc is pitching well.
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Marlins' David Robertson: Earns sixth win
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Robertson (6-6) earned the win Sunday against the Phillies. He allowed a hit and two walks while striking out three in a scoreless inning.
Robertson certainly didn't make things easy in the seventh inning Sunday -- after striking out the first two batters in the frame, he'd load the bases on a pair of walks and a hit before ultimately punching out Alec Bohm. The Marlins would take the lead in the bottom half of the inning, giving Robertson his second win in his last three appearances. The veteran right-hander has now delivered three consecutive scoreless outings after giving up eight runs (six earned) in his previous four appearances. Tanner Scott seems to have locked down the closing job in Miami, though they'll still rely on Robertson as a high-leverage option. He now sports a 3.10 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and 65:23 K:BB in 58 innings between the Marlins and Mets this season.
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Marlins' David Robertson: On outs as Miami closer
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The Marlins are expected to remove Robertson from the closing role beginning with Sunday's game against the Nationals, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker hasn't confirmed that Robertson has lost hold of the ninth-inning gig, but the writing appears to be on the wall for the right-hander's removal from the role after he blew his second save in the last three chances in Saturday's loss to Washington. Since being acquired from the Mets on July 27, Robertson has turned in a 7.20 ERA and 1.70 WHIP over 10 innings while blowing three of seven save opportunities. Tanner Scott profiles as the most likely option to take over as Miami's closer, though it's possible that Schumaker opts to take a committee approach to save situations.
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Marlins' David Robertson: Blows another save
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Robertson (4-5) took the loss and blew the save in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Nationals, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
Lane Thomas greeted Robertson with a triple to open the top of the ninth, and while he got erased at home plate on a fielder's choice, the veteran reliever never regained his focus. Robertson has not been the answer at closer for Miami -- since being picked up at the trade deadline from the Mets, he's stumbled to a 7.20 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 9:6 K:BB through 10 innings while blowing three of his seven save chances. Tanner Scott has yet to give up a run in August while A.J. Puk has thrived in a return to a setup role since Robertson was acquired, so it wouldn't be a surprise if manager Skip Schumaker shuffled around his high-leverage corps once again before the end of the season.
