The Phillies announced that right-handed reliever Anthony Swarzak has requested and received his unconditional release. Swarzak had been on a minor league contract since June. It was the second minors pact Swarzak signed with the Phillies dating back to February. The two sides reworked the initial deal.
The 34-year-old Swarzak isn’t that far removed from a brief run as one of the game’s most effective relievers. Between the White Sox and Brewers in 2017, Swarzak parlayed career-high 95 mph velocity into a 2.33 ERA/2.74 FIP with 10.59 K/9 and 2.56 BB/9 over 77 1/3 innings. That was enough to convince the Mets to sign Swarzak to a two-year, $14MM contract in the ensuing offseason. However, thanks in part to oblique and shoulder problems, his career has gone off the rails since then.
Swarzak only lasted a year with the Mets, who traded him to the Mariners in the teams’ Robinson Cano/Edwin Diaz blockbuster in December 2018. And he barely pitched for the Mariners, who dealt him to the Braves for fellow relievers Arodys Vizcaino and Jesse Biddle last May. Swarzak could only muster a 5.08 ERA/5.63 FIP with 9.63 K/9 and 4.63 BB/9 in a combined 79 2/3 innings among the three teams. The well-traveled veteran will now presumably look to catch on with yet another club.
I’d be scared to pick up Swarzak right now, because it definatley seems like he just hit a brick wall.
yep. as bad as the pen is Swarzak wouldnt have been able to help.
It seems the pen is mightier than the Swarz.
I’ve heard a lot of great comments on this site. This is the best one.
If he still throws 95, Eppler will be interested.
Unless an organization is truly desperate Swarzak is most likely to sit out the season. He should use this time to work with someone who can get him back on track. Try again this offseason
Those stats would make him the 2nd best pitcher on the O’s. Welcome to Baltimore!
Seems perfect for the Mets again
No. Mets don’t want him.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the White Sox took a look at him again. He had his best year while pitching for them and Cooper probably thinks he can fix him if Swarzak is healthy. The Sox’ pen last year was part good and part awful. If Swarzak can find his 2017 again, or even close to it, he’d be a nice upgrade. If not, he’d probably sign for cheap, so low-risk move.
I agree. I like it when players return to the teams with whom they’ve had their greatest success. The career of most relievers is a roller coaster, but you’ve got to think there are discoverable reasons why they perform in some places much better than in others. I’d like to see the Sox take this low-risk chance.
Yankees will scoop him up
Yankees don’t need him. Who would you replace? My guess is possibly Cessa.
New York already has a fantastic bullpen. There would be no room for a guy like swarzak
This guy was lights out for like a month. Like he was almost unhitable. After that it crashed and burned and there were no survivors.
NPB bound?
I’d take a chance on him again as a Braves fan. Assuming we had a spot for him. It would have to be a cheap league min deal though
Wait you’re a braves fan? I didn’t know that!
The more you know…