The Philadelphia Phillies are making their way to open the season against the Washington Nationals on Thursday afternoon. But some players aren’t fortunate enough to make the trip.
The Phillies’ final round of roster cuts have been eventful as Ranger Suarez’s back injury messed with the rotation and fringe candidates Kody Clemens and Taijuan Walker made the team out of Spring Training. But this time of year is also filled with divisional rivals looking to find a diamond in the rough and it includes a pitcher who was just kicked to the curb landing with an NL East rival.
Former Phillies Pitcher Tyler Phillips Joins Marlins
According to FanSided’s Robert Murray, former Phillies pitcher Tyler Phillips will join the Miami Marlins. Murray notes that it is unclear whether Phillips is headed to Miami via a small trade or an outright waiver claim after the right-hander was designated for assignment on Sunday. But he will join the team’s major league roster as he is out of minor league options.
Phillips was a 15th-round pick by the Texas Rangers in the 16th round of the 2015 MLB Draft and came to Philadelphia after he was claimed off waivers in 2021. The 27-year-old made just eight appearances and seven starts for the Phillies last season but that included a gem where he threw a four-hit shutout against the Cleveland Guardians on July 27.
Unfortunately, that appearance became an outlier. Phillips posted a 17.74 ERA in his final four starts for the Phillies. He also struggled in Spring Training, allowing nine earned runs in 10.2 innings during Grapefruit League play.
Phillips will now look to join a rotation that is led by former National League Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara but has unknowns such as Connor Gillispie, Valente Bellozo, Max Meyer and Cal Quantrill.
It represents a new beginning for the right-hander, who will look to resurrect his career in the confines of the National League East.