BREAKING: 3-Time Phillies Reliever Announces Retirement With Heartfelt Message

3-Time Phillies Reliever Announces Retirement With Heartfelt Message

David Robertson, who waited until the middle of last season for a team to sign him, agreed to a short-term deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. That ended up being the last year Robertson would pitch in the big leagues after he announced his retirement from baseball on social media posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram on Friday.
Robertson pitched 17 seasons in MLB. Among his top career moments were playing for Team USA, helping the club win the World Baseball Classic in 2017, and being part of the silver medal team in the Summer Olympic Games in 2021.

“To all the incredible organizations, teammates, coaches, staff members, and fans who have been part of my baseball journey,” Robertson began his message. “I’ve decided it’s time for me to hang up my spikes and retire from the game I’ve loved for as long as I can remember. Baseball has given me more than I ever dreamed possible over the last 19 seasons.”

David Robertson spent three seasons with the Phillies in his lengthy career
The Birmingham, Alabama, native, played for the New York Yankees (2008-14, 2017-18), Chicago White Sox (2015-17), Phillies (2019, 2022, 2025), Tampa Bay Rays (2021), Chicago Cubs (2022), New York Mets (2023), Miami Marlins (2023), and Texas Rangers (2024) during his MLB career.

Robertson made the All-Star Game in 2011 with the Yankees, in which he compiled a 4-0 record, with a career-best 1.08 ERA, and 100 strikeouts in 70 contests. He earned Cy Young Award and MVP votes during this season as well.

The right-hander made the postseason in 10 of his 17 seasons, playing in two World Series, one with the Yankees in 2009 and with the Phillies in 2022. He won a championship with New York in ’09. For his career, the 17-year veteran totaled a record of 68-46, a 2.93 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 1176 strikeouts, 365 walks, and 179 saves in 239 opportunities.

Joe Girardi, Robertson’s manager during the majority of his time pitching with the Yankees, spoke about the veteran pitcher following the news of his retirement , per MLB.com’s Sweeny Murti.

“Even in all the years he set up for [Mariano Rivera], David was a closer in the moment that you needed him,” Girardi said, Murti. “There was no moment that was ever too big for him. I always had the utmost confidence in him.