Phillies agree to contract with Corey Knebel from the Los Angeles Dodgers

Finally, the Phillies have made a move in free agency. Per Jeff Passan, right-handed reliever Corey Knebel is in agreement on a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Right-handed reliever Corey Knebel is in agreement on a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 1, 2021

Knebel, when healthy, was an important piece for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen in 2021. Health was certainly an issue and kept him out of the bullpen for nearly four months while dealing with a lat issue. In 2017 as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, he posted a 1.78 ERA. In 2018, he had Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2019 season.

The Dodgers relied on Knebel down the stretch and he defintiely delivered, posting a 1.83 ERA in 19 appearances during that span. In the postseason, he appeared seven times for the Dodgers, posting a 3.18 ERA including two starts.

Corey Knebel, Wicked 80mph Knuckle Curve…and Fist Pump. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/On45pBfo7j

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 7, 2021

In 27 appearances during the regular season, Knebel posted a 2.45 ERA with 3 saves. Is Corey Knebel a closer? I wouldn’t think so, but he’s definitely a much needed arm for the Phillies’ bullpen which was just awful again last season. It is possible that the Phillies consider him a “fall back” option in the closer role, which I do not like. We all saw what Ian Kennedy did last year in a similar role.

Corey Knebel deal is a one-year contract, the #Phillies announce.

— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) December 1, 2021

UPDATE: Knebel agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Phillies.

Hopefully this will be the first of a few moves from the Phillies today before the CBA expiration at midnight. Up until Knebel, the Phillies organization spent zero dollars in free agency.