Reliever Chad Durbin Reportedly Returns to Phillies

Looking to fortify their bullpen, the Philadelphia Phillies turned to a familiar face.

A person familiar with the deals says the Phillies have agreed with veteran reliever Chad Durbin on a one-year contract. Durbin returns to Philadelphia where he played a key role in the bullpen on the 2008 World Series championship team.

The deal reached on Monday is pending a physical, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team didn't make an official announcement.

Durbin was 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA in a career-high 76 games for Atlanta last season.

The righty was 5-4 with a career-best 2.87 ERA in 71 appearances with the Phillies in `08. He left Philadelphia after the 2010 season and posted a 5.53 ERA in Cleveland in 2011 before returning to the NL with the Braves.

The 34-year-old Durbin is 42-47 with a 4.95 ERA in 440 games over 13 seasons with six teams.

Durbin is expected to pitch in middle relief. The Phillies signed Mike Adams to fill the setup role in front of closer Jonathan Papelbon.

Durbin gives manager Charlie Manuel another veteran option in a bullpen that struggled last year. The Phillies had a tough time protecting leads before Papelbon entered in the ninth. Their 4.89 ERA in the eighth was next-to-last in the majors, and they allowed a league-worst 24 home runs in the inning.

With Papelbon, Adams, Durbin and lefty Antonio Bastardo filling four spots, the Phillies enter spring training with three openings in their bullpen. Youngsters Phillippe Aumont, Justin De Fratus, Mike Stutes and Jake Diekman along with Jeremy Horst and Raul Valdes will be among those competing to make the roster.

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