Rockies add Neshek in trade with Phillies

Jul 27, 2017 - 4:01 AM The Colorado Rockies, in contention for a playoff spot for the first time since 2009, strengthened their bullpen Wednesday night by acquiring two-time All-Star Pat Neshek from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for three minor leaguers.

"It's exciting," Neshek said. "You're jumping into a playoff race. That's a great team, great offense. I don't know the exact standings, but I know they're in the wild card right now. I've played for (Rockies manager) Bud Black before, he was awesome. I played with Nolan Arenado in the World Baseball Classic.

"It's bittersweet, too. I enjoyed my time here. These guys are some of the better guys I played with and this is one of my favorite places I've been. It's tough, I've never been through something like this to another big league team. It's a lot of emotion."

The 36-year-old Neshek went 3-2 with a 1.12 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings this year for Philadelphia. He was the Phillies' lone representative at the All-Star Game, and is in the final year of a three-year contract that he signed with Houston after an All-Star season in 2014 with St. Louis.

"I'm actually relieved," Neshek said. "People have been talking about (a trade) since April. I thought it was going to go to the last day. It's kind of nerve-wracking. You read Twitter, and it seems like every team imaginable might. I kind of had a feeling the Rockies might."

Neshek figures to become the eighth-inning option to set up closer Greg Holland, the National League saves leader with 31, for a Colorado team that entered Wednesday night with a 58-44 record and the NL's second wild-card berth.

Going to the Phillies are infielder Jose Gomez, and right-handed pitchers J.D. Hammer and Alejandro Requena. The 20-year-old Gomez was batting .324 with four homers, 33 RBIs and 18 steals for Class A Asheville.

Hammer, 23, is 4-2 with a 2.36 ERA in 36 relief outings split between Asheville and Class A Lancaster of the California League, fanning 65 in 42 innings.

The 20-year Requena is 8-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 19 starts with Asheville. All three players were selected as All-Stars in the South Atlantic League.