PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Last year didn’t quite go as planned for the Philadelphia Phillies. After making the biggest offseason splash in signing Bryce Harper to a $330 million deal, the Phillies crumbled once again during the season and finished with a .500 record.
Harper lived up to his billing, though, belting 35 home runs, with 114 RBI, and an .882 OPS, while also playing Gold Glove-caliber defense. But his addition still couldn’t lead the Phillies to the playoffs, thanks in large part to an inconsistent offense, issues with the starting rotation and an injury-depleted bullpen.
Coming into the 2020 season, the Phillies addressed the offense and rotation in signing shortstop Didi Gregorius and pitcher Zack Wheeler, but didn’t make any big-name additions to the bullpen, instead relying on non-roster invitees Francisco Liriano, Anthony Swarzak and Drew Storen — a guy trying to pitch in the majors for the first since September 2017 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.