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MLB

Reliever David Robertson, Philadelphia Phillies agree to a two-year deal

Scott Boeck
USA TODAY
David Robertson was 8-3 with a 3.23 ERA with the Yankees in 2018.

Free agent reliever David Robertson and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to a two-year deal, the club announced Thursday.

The deal guarantees him at least $23 million, according to multiple reports. He’ll earn $10 million this season, $11 million in 2020 with a club option of $12 million for 2021 or a $2 million buyout. Robertson orchestrated the deal on his own, choosing to represent himself in free agency.

Robertson, who served as the set-up man with the New York Yankees the past 1 1/2 seasons, likely returns to the closer role when he joins the Phillies, slotting Seranthony Dominguez as a late inning reliever. The 2011 All-Star saved 110 games with the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox from 2014-16

Robertson, 33, is coming off a successful 2018 season in which he was 8-3 with a 3.23 ERA over 69 2/3 innings with the Yankees. He held opponents to a .183 batting average and allowed just one home run to the 151 right-handed batters he faced.

For the first time in his 11 year career, he will move from the American League to the National League. Since 2010, he has appeared in at least 60 games in nine straight seasons, a feat accomplished by only 12 other pitchers in major league history. He is also the only pitcher in MLB history to average at least 10 strikeouts per nine innings in each of his first 11 big league seasons. 

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The Phillies have been active this winter. Last month, they acquired shortstop Jean Segura in a trade with the Seattle Mariners and signed free agent outfielder Andrew McCuthchen. 

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