The Philadelphia Phillies have been constantly rotating their bullpen as they try to fix nearly every weakness exposed by their rough start to the season.
They’ve leaned on fringe options like Seth Johnson, Chase Shugart, and Kyle Backhus while closer Jhoan Duran recovers from an oblique injury.
Things hit a low point in Tuesday’s loss to the Chicago Cubs, where control issues plagued the pitching staff.
The team issued 10 walks and hit two batters in a 7–4 defeat, while their starters have combined for just 13 innings over the last three games. With another bullpen game looming, Taijuan Walker is expected to handle significant innings in relief.
The instability in the bullpen has been one of the more surprising disappointments this season. After moving on from Matt Strahm and adding Brad Keller, the unit appeared more settled on paper. Instead, inconsistency has forced ongoing adjustments.
Meanwhile, a familiar face has landed elsewhere. Former Phillies reliever Luis Garcia—who pitched for the club from 2013 to 2018—has signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins after being released by the New York Mets.
Garcia, 39, struggled in his brief stint with New York, allowing multiple runs across just six appearances after signing a one-year deal in the offseason. However, he showed promise as recently as last year, posting a 3.42 ERA across 58 games split between the Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Nationals, and Los Angeles Angels.
While there are concerns about declining velocity, Minnesota’s low-risk signing gives them a chance to see if the veteran still has something left to offer. Over the past five seasons, Garcia has maintained respectable numbers, including a solid strikeout rate, good control, and an ability to generate ground balls—making him a worthwhile gamble for bullpen depth.
