The Philadelphia Phillies have several important roster decisions to make this winter as they look to build a more dependable team for another postseason run. While questions about the lineup will demand plenty of attention, the bullpen could be one of the organization’s most pressing priorities after the relief corps struggled to provide consistent bridge options late in the season.
The problem became especially apparent during September and the playoffs.
“As a dreadful September unfolded and the Wild Card Series arrived, the Philadelphia Phillies had few trusted relievers they could turn to,” Charlotte Varnes and Matt Gelb wrote for The Athletic. “Jhoan Duran to close games, perhaps Alex McFarlane as the setup man. Jose Alvarado or Tim Mayza, perhaps, if they needed a lefty. The rest of the relief corps fell further down the trust tree, whether because of injury or ineffectiveness.”
That uncertainty gives Philadelphia a reason to explore both external additions and internal options for new relief arms. And very shortly after its season ended, the team made a move to retain one intriguing young arm who could soon address its depth.
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“The Phillies re-signed RHP Estibenzon Jimenez to a minor league contract,” Phillies Tailgate reported last week. “Jimenez had a solid season out of the bullpen for four different affiliates in 2026, ending the year in AA.”
Jimenez, 24, enters the offseason with lots of momentum after moving into a full-time relief role. The right-hander had previously split time between starting and relieving, but the transition gave him an opportunity to demonstrate his potential in higher-leverage situations.
His 2026 minor-league numbers offer reason for optimism. Jimenez finished with a 7-0 record, a 2.38 ERA and 51 strikeouts across 45.1 innings. He also recorded seven saves, suggesting the Phillies could have a developing major league bullpen option on their hands.
His performance in Double-A Reading was particularly encouraging. Jimenez helped the Fightin Phils during their postseason run, including recording saves during their Eastern League championship series. That experience could prove valuable as he continues working toward a major-league opportunity.
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The Phillies already have an example of how a pitching prospect can benefit from a transition to relief in McFarlane, who made the move from starting to the bullpen and reached Philadelphia’s playoff roster in 2026.
“With his impressive pitching in high-leverage situations with the Fightin Phils, Jimenez had his breakout as a reliever in 2026,” Josh Sperber wrote for MiLB.com. “Another season like he just had, and he could be challenging McFarlane for a spot in the Phillies’ bullpen.”
The minor-league contract does not guarantee Jimenez a place on Philadelphia’s major-league roster. But it gives the organization another opportunity to evaluate a young pitcher whose recent results have made him worth retaining.
With the Phillies needing more reliable relief options, Jimenez’s next season could determine whether his breakout becomes a meaningful part of the team’s plans.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com