Philadelphia Phillies need to sign Shane Greene
The Philadelphia Phillies have spent the last few years attempting to fix their bullpen. This past offseason was no exception, as they made several moves to shore up their relief corps. The hope was that this time, given the new front office, would be different.
But it is not so different after all. Phillies relievers rank 22nd in the majors with a 4.39 ERA and 27th with 1.61 homers allowed per nine innings. Although there have been some positives, as Jose Alvarado, Hector Neris, and Sam Coonrod have pitched relatively well, Philadelphia definitely needs to find other capable arms for the bullpen.
Shane Greene would be a perfect fit for Philadelphia Phillies
Enter Shane Greene. The former Tigers’ closer has been a solid option since transitioning to the bullpen full time, with 2020 not being an exception. He posted a 2.60 ERA and a 1.120 WHiP in 27.2 innings for the Braves last year, striking out 21 batters with nine walks. Although the strikeout numbers may have decreased, he was still effective in his role as Atlanta’s setup man.
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As plenty of teams sought to improve their bullpens in the offseason, the fact that Greene is still a free agent is somewhat surprising. However, that may not be the case for long, as he is reportedly engaging in talks with several teams.
The Phillies need to be involved in these conversations. Greene would be a perfect fit in a high leverage role once he is ready to join a major league roster. He would also serve as a valuable fallback option in case Neris struggles down the line, as seems to be the case almost every season.
Greene would also send a message to the fanbase. All too often, it seems as though the Phillies make cosmetic changes, claiming that they are serious about contending for a postseason berth, but falling short in doing what is needed to make that push. Adding Greene, while he may not be a difference maker per se, would show that the commitment is there.
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The Philadelphia Phillies still need to improve their bullpen. With Shane Greene having ongoing discussions with multiple teams, the Phillies need to be involved.