Philadelphia Phillies Reportedly Sign Hard-Throwing Righty to Deal
The Philadelphia Phillies made a move on Monday that could help bolster their bullpen for the 2024 MLB season.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Phillies inked right-handed pitcher Jose Ruiz to a minor league deal with an invite to MLB Spring Training.
Ruiz spent time with the Chicago White Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks last season. In 44.1 innings pitched in 2023, Ruiz recorded a 5.89 ERA, the majority of his work coming with the Diamondbacks.
Over the course of his seven-year MLB career, the 29-year-old owns a 4.51 ERA over 219.1 innings pitched with a 1.486 WHIP. Ruiz is most well known for his power fastball which sits above 96 mph.
Ruiz is a no-risk, all-reward signing. If Ruiz pans out in spring training then the Phillies have another power righty they can call on out of the bullpen. If he doesn't it is as simple as letting him go.
However, if he does make the active roster, he would have to pass through outright waivers before being sent back down to the minors as he is all out of options at this point in his career.
These are the types of moves that can help improve a team at the margins while not committing much money. It is the precise type of move the Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski likes to make.
Philadelphia is still a team to keep an eye on when it comes to making a big splash this winter, even after inking Aaron Nola to a new, seven-year, $72 million deal.
