Philadelphia Phillies: Could Brad Lidge Be Returning?

The Philadelphia Phillies already added Jonathan Papelbon to the bullpen this winter as the team’s new closer. With that move in the rear-view mirror, what might be coming next?

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, it is possible that Brad Lidge will be back in the City of Brotherly Love next season.

Would this be a good thing?

Although Lidge spent a significant part of last year on the disabled list, he was effective when he finally returned. He appeared in 25 games and posted a 1.40 ERA with eight holds.

Lidge’s control seemed to be a little bit off as he issued 13 walks in 19.1 innings. However, part of that might simply be that he was getting rid of the rust that accumulated while he was recovering. That should be expected immediately after a pitcher returns to the mound.

The encouraging part of Lidge’s control struggles is that even though he was allowing runners on base, he wasn’t allowing them to cross the plate. At times, composure had been a struggle for him, so it is incredibly important to note that he wasn’t being overwhelmed by the prospect of having runners on base.

With a solid winter and spring, the rust should finally be off for Lidge. Even though he would definitely not be the closer, he is more than capable of being a productive member of the Phillies bullpen.

The Phillies are again hoping to make a run at the World Series. There are many ways to go about building a successful team, but one solid way to do that is by bringing in pitchers who have been there and had success. Phillies fans might recall some of Lidge’s previous success in the World Series …

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