Framber Valdez Over Ranger Suarez? 3 MLB Free Agents Phillies Should Still Sign

The Philadelphia Phillies have been busy – like, extremely busy.

They've retained 2025 National League MVP runner-up Kyle Schwarber (five-year, $150 million deal), signed former Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia (one-year, $10 million deal) and brought in several relievers, including right-handed pitcher Brad Keller (two-year, $22 million deal). At the same time, this is a Phillies team in World Series contention that has been bounced out of the Division Series round in back-to-back years: more can always be done. 

Here are three MLB free agents Philadelphia should still sign.

Pierce Johnson has pitched for five teams in his eight-year MLB career. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

2025 Stats: 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 59 strikeouts, 137 ERA+, 1.1 wins above replacement (59 innings pitched)

Yes, the Phillies signed the aforementioned Keller and acquired relievers Jonathan Bowlan and Kyle Backhus, among others. But why would a team whose bullpen lacked compared to its starting rotation and positional depth chart last season get complacent with the weakness of its roster?

Johnson has come into his own with the Atlanta Braves. After surrendering just two earned runs in 23.2 innings pitched after the Braves acquired him in 2023, Johnson posted a combined 3.36 ERA and 124 ERA+ from 2024-25. He logs strikeouts at a high rate, successfully leans on his curveball – while mixing in his four-seamer and occasionally a cutter – and has excelled in the postseason; across 12.0 innings pitched in the postseason, Johnson has recorded a combined 1.50 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.

Johnson would add a quality right-handed reliever to a Philadelphia bullpen that was tied for 20th in MLB in ERA (4.27), tied for 20th in WHIP (1.33) and was 24th in