The Phillies added much needed help to their bullpen this afternoon by signing former Diamondbacks and Reds pitcher Archie Bradley. The deal is reportedly for 1-year and $6 million.

This is a great signing for the Phillies. Bradley, 28, has been incredibly reliable, notching 70 innings plus over three straight seasons before a solid shortened 2020. While he doesn’t have closer-level stuff, he can reach the mid 90’s and could fit into a crucial set-up role.

Bradley was surprisingly non-tendered by the Reds this offseason. Cincinnati chose to let him walk instead of paying him a projected 4 to 6 million in arbitration.

The Phillies bullpen: Hector Neris, Jose Alvarado, Archie Bradley, Connor Brogdon, Sam Coonrod, Ranger Suarez, David Hale, Jojo Romero, Victor Arano.

Bradley was once an elite pitching prospect after being selected by Arizona with the 7th overall pick in 2011. He never met those lofty expectations as a starter and was converted to the bullpen beginning in the 2017 season. The change was an immediate success as he posted 3.5 WAR and finished 20th in MVP voting, Bradley was traded this past deadline to Cincinnati where he pitched well in the regular season, but gave up the only run in the Reds Game 1 NLDS loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Mandatory Credit: USA Today