Five months ago, with the Phillies’ payroll poised to surpass the highest luxury-tax threshold, John Middleton sat in his spring-training office and mulled over a question. Is there a point when the owner will stop spending?

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made the move Monday, optioning the 40-year-old reliever to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

David Robertson is officially back with the Phillies for his third stint in Philadelphia. The Phillies signed veteran right-handed reliever David Robertson to a one-year contract Monday, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced.