As anticipated, the Phillies will decline their $12MM club option on reliever David Robertson, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.com (Twitter link). The veteran righty will instead be bought out for $2MM.
This marks the end of a union that didn’t at all go according to plan. Robertson’s durability was a big reason the Phils guaranteed him $23MM over two years during the 2018-19 offseason. Unfortunately, he blew out just seven appearances into his first season, eventually requiring Tommy John surgery. While it seemed at one point he might be able to make it back to the mound for the tail end of 2020, a setback ultimately prevented him from pitching again.
Now 35 years old (36 in April), Robertson figures to face a tough market this winter. He has an excellent track record and was still a high-end bullpen piece in 2018 (his last full season), but his age and recent injury history may force him to work his way back onto an MLB roster via a non-guaranteed deal.