Phillies add Koplove to bullpen

Champs reportedly add veteran right-handed reliever

By Robert Falkoff / MLB.com

Hopefully this move will help the team next year.

The Phillies aren’t resting on their World Series accomplishments. In a move that could eventually add depth to their 2009 bullpen, the Phils have agreed to terms with veteran reliever Mike Koplove, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.

Citing two sources familiar with the situation who confirmed the agreement, the Daily News said Koplove is likely to wind up at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but will have an invitation to be in Clearwater, Fla., with the Major League club for Spring Training.

Koplove spent last season in the Dodgers’ system, going 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA for Triple-A Las Vegas.

Last year, the Phils made a relatively unheralded bullpen move in signing Chad Durbin, and Durbin wound up being a key factor in Philadelphia’s run to a World Series title. Koplove, 32, has only seven Major League appearances since 2005, but has pitched 254 2/3 innings in his career. (H/T Phillies.com)

Well, I’ll wait until spring training to see if this guy will actually help the team or not. But, if he does, how the Dodgers let him out of their minor league system I’ll never know.