The back end of the Phillies bullpen should look a lot different next year. Héctor Neris, Archie Bradley and Ian Kennedy are all set to become free agents after the 2021 season.
Neris, the longest tenured Phillie, lost the closer’s job in June, but has pitched brilliantly in a more flexible high-leverage back end role. Since his ERA skyrocketed to 5.17 after a disastrous outing against San Diego, Neris has only allowed earned runs in two of his last 24 outings. His ERA on the season is down to 3.54.
Bradley signed with a team as a free agent on a one-year, $6 million deal last offseason. He missed time earlier in the year with a left oblique strain and has pitched well since his return. He has a 3.32 ERA since coming back from injury, but has given up five earned runs in his last three outings combined as he deals with shoulder soreness. His 16% strikeout rate is the lowest it has been since 2015. His ERA this season sits at 3.51.
Kennedy was acquired at the trade deadline from the Texas Rangers along with Kyle Gibson and pitching prospect Hans Crouse for Spencer Howard and pitching prospects Kevin Gowdy and Josh Gessner. He was immediately named the Phillies’ new closer and while he has picked up five saves for the Phillies, the 36-year-old has a 6.30 ERA since coming over in the trade. Kennedy was signed as a non-roster invitee by the Rangers last offseason.
| Age | ERA | FIP | xERA | K% | BB% | HR/9 | WHIP | BABIP | |
| Héctor Neris | 32 | 3.54 | 3.97 | 2.84 | 30.8% | 10.5% | 1.29 | 1.18 | .260 |
| Archie Bradley | 29 | 3.51 | 4.63 | 4.38 | 16.0% | 11.0% | 0.88 | 1.49 | .294 |
| Ian Kennedy | 36 | 3.40 | 4.65 | 4.14 | 27.9% | 7.0% | 1.91 | 1.13 | .267 |
* A look at how all three pitchers have performed in 2021. Ian Kennedy’s numbers include his time with Texas. See our Stats Glossary.
If given the opportunity to re-sign one of these three pitchers to a one-year guaranteed contract for 2022, which would you choose?
- Héctor Neris (48%, 691 Votes)
- Archie Bradley (28%, 396 Votes)
- Ian Kennedy (24%, 345 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,432
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