For teams seeking bullpen help, an alternative option to the trade market lingers in free agency.
Veteran right-hander David Robertson, a free agent since the end of last season, is throwing for interested clubs, The Athletic has learned.
Several teams, including the New York Mets and New York Yankees, have at least recently looked into Robertson, league sources said. Multiple teams expect to attend one of his throwing sessions within the next week.
Robertson hasn’t pitched in a game since last September after opting out of his contract with the Texas Rangers in the offseason. (Kiyoshi Mio / Imagn Images)
Robertson, who turned 40 in April, hasn’t appeared in a game since late last September. While pitching for the Texas Rangers, he continued to defy concerns over his age with another productive season. In 72 innings (68 games), he had a 3.00 ERA with 99 strikeouts and 27 walks. From 2022-24, he averaged 63 appearances per season with a collective 2.82 ERA. His cutter averaged 93.3 mph in 2023 and 2024 after checking in at 93 mph in 2022.
At the start of last offseason, Robertson, who is self-represented, declined his end of a mutual option with the Rangers, forgoing a $7 million salary in 2025 in favor of a $1.5 million buyout and the ability to test free agency. Since then, clubs failed to meet his asking price.
While Robertson is perhaps best known for his nine years with the Yankees — he was an All-Star with them in 2011 — he has also pitched for the Miami Marlins, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Mets and Rangers.
With the July 31 trade deadline about two and a half weeks away, several contending teams are hunting for bullpen help. Robertson presents a different path with a wealth of experience in the postseason and in high-leverage roles.
(Top photo: Elsa / Getty Images)
