Sources: Jeurys Familia, Phillies in agreement on a contract

The Philadelphia Phillies have bolstered their bullpen with the addition of veteran reliever Jeurys Familia.

Free-agent reliever Jeurys Familia is in agreement on a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, pending physical, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Familia, 32, steps into a Phillies bullpen that desperately needed upgrades. In 2020, their bullpen posted a 7.06 ERA. In 2021, that same unit blew a league-high 34 saves.

They had already signed right-hander Corey Knebel to a one-year contract but lost Hector Neris to the Houston Astros earlier in the offseason.

Jeurys Familia brings another veteran presence to the Phillies bullpen

Familia has familiarity with the National League East – he pitched 10 seasons with the New York Mets – and is coming off a season in which he posted a 3.94 ERA and a 72/27 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 59.1 innings. In his career, he has a combined 3.28 ERA in 498.2 innings and adds another veteran in the late innings for the Phillies bullpen.

The Phillies are not done, however, as they had extensive conversations with free-agent slugger Kyle Schwarber before the lockout, sources said.

Recently, Bryce Harper began “stumping” the Phillies front office to sign his friend and Las Vegas neighbor Kris Bryant, though the free-agent third baseman/outfielder is being considered by the Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, New York Mets and others.