4 Former Phillies Still Unemployed Heading Into Opening Day
With Opening Day only a few days away, multiple former Phillies remain without a new team.
By Jovan Alford
Opening Day will get underway on Thursday as the Philadelphia Phillies look to make another deep postseason run after losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS.
The Phillies didn’t make a lot of splash moves this offseason, but they re-signed Aaron Nola to a mega seven-year deal and gave Zack Wheeler a three-year extension to solidify the top of their starting rotation. Philadelphia also signed veteran Whit Merrifield to a one-year contract with a club option for 2025.
With those moves, plus the Phillies keeping their core intact, they should be a contender in a top-heavy National League. However, several former Phillies players are without a job heading into the 2024 season.
Below, we’ll discuss some of the former Phillies looking for a new team with the start of the regular season only days away.
1. Jean Segura
The veteran second baseman was a fan favorite in Philadelphia from 2019-22. Segura played a solid second base defensively and was solid at the plate, hitting a career .281 with the Phillies.
Segura’s best year in Philadelphia was in 2021, where he slashed .290/.348/.436 with 14 home runs and 58 RBI. The veteran infielder played a notable role in the team’s postseason run in 2022, as he had seven RBI despite hitting a disappointing .214 at the plate.
The Phillies opted not to re-sign Segura after the 2022 postseason and signed All-Star shortstop Trea Turner to a blockbuster 10-year deal. Philadelphia moved Bryson Stott to second base, so Turner could start at shortstop.
After his four-year run with Philly, Segura signed a two-year contract with the Marlins, but Miami traded him to the Cleveland Guardians last August, who then released him. Segura struggled at the plate in his short time with the Marlins, hitting .219 with three home runs and 21 RBI.
At 34 years old, it’s tough to see Segura getting any major league opportunities unless someone gets hurt, but teams will look in-house before exploring free agency.