The Philadelphia Phillies have found new life in their season after turning a disastrous start into a more respectable record by the one-third point of the year.
Philadelphia’s momentum shifted dramatically following the managerial change from Rob Thomson to Don Mattingly, and the club now appears firmly in the hunt for an NL Wild Card spot.
The Phillies’ talented roster was on display again this week when closer Jhoan Duran recorded the 100th save of his career during a victory over the San Diego Padres.
Relief pitchers Orion Kerkering and Brad Keller also delivered key scoreless innings before Duran shut the door in the ninth for his 10th save of the season.
While the bullpen has recently become a strength for Philadelphia, the organization also received news involving former longtime reliever Luis Garcia.
The veteran right-hander elected free agency on Monday after declining a minor-league assignment from the Minnesota Twins.
Garcia, who began the season with the New York Mets, appeared in only nine games for Minnesota before ending his contract.
The 39-year-old originally debuted with the Phillies in 2013 and spent six seasons in Philadelphia before beginning a journeyman stretch that included stops with the Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, Padres, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Nationals, Mets, and Twins.
Across 14 MLB seasons, Garcia owns a 4.20 ERA in more than 598 innings, including a 4.12 ERA across 251 appearances with Philadelphia — the most games he pitched for any franchise.
Despite no longer being a high-leverage option, Garcia’s experience and durability could still make him an attractive bullpen addition for teams searching for veteran depth.
