"I think it’s pretty well set at this time"- Phillies president Dave Dombrowski isn't looking at bullpen additions ahead of 2025 season

The Philadelphia Phillies have been relatively quiet this offseason. They traded for Jesus Luzardo, but have been absent in the talks with most major free agents. Jeff Hoffman, one of their key free agents, is still available. He leaves a bit of a hole in their bullpen, but team president Dave Dombrowski isn't anticipating much more movement there.

Via the Athletic, he said:

“I think it’s pretty well set at this time."

The rest of the bullpen is largely intact, but the Phillies have a plan. Their addition of Luzardo gives them five strong starters. They also have Andrew Painter waiting in the wings.

The surplus of starters will leave less pressure on the bullpen. Starters will pitch more games and deeper into games, which leaves fewer innings for a reliever to fill.

Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Luzardo and Taijuan Walker rounds up their starting rotation, so bullpen arms won't be as necessary this year as in years past.

---

Phillies president addresses top pitching prospect

Part of why the Phillies feel so confident in their pitching despite a lack of relievers is the surplus of starters. The other part is the prospects they have waiting in the wings, namely MLB's 32nd-best prospect and Philly's second-best.

Andrew Painter is ready to join the Phillies (Imagn)

Andrew Painter is bordering on MLB-ready, and Dave Dombrowski knows that. It's a weapon he plans to deploy later in the season. He said via the Athletic:

“We’re going to push the innings back. I don’t think it’s going to change. Andrew understands the plan. We think it’s a good plan. He’ll build up at some point through the minors. … We’re going to save a lot of his innings until we get to July-ish for the big-league level.”

Painter will be able to pitch in the minors, but he will come up and make a significant contribution to the Phillies' rotation in the second half. If there are no rotation injuries, someone might move to the bullpen to bolster it. If there are, they will still have a full, strong rotation after adding Painter.