The Phillies announced Monday that they’ve claimed righty Yoan Lopez off waivers from the Braves and cleared a roster spot by designating outfielder Roman Quinn for assignment.
The 28-year-old Lopez had a solid run with the Braves’ top affiliate, Triple-A Gwinnett, tallying 32 2/3 innings of 3.03 ERA ball with a 26.7% strikeout rate and an 8.4% walk rate in that time. Atlanta never gave him a look in the Majors after acquiring him in a small, late-May swap with the D-backs, however, and Lopez was designated for assignment when the Braves picked up righty Jay Jackson from the Giants last week.
Once a high-profile international signing by the D-backs, Lopez has only tallied 101 2/3 innings in the big leagues to this point. He carries a 4.25 ERA with a solid 7.7% walk rate but a below-average 19.1% strikeout rate. He has a pair of minor league options remaining and will give the Phillies some bullpen depth if he survives the offseason on their 40-man roster.
Quinn, 28, long ranked as one of the better prospects in the Phillies’ system, but the speedster has been oft-injured and, to this point, generally unproductive at the MLB level. The fleet-footed switch-hitter batted just .173/.306/.288 in 62 MLB plate appearances this past season and owns a .228/.306/.355 batting line through 512 trips to the plate at the game’s top level.
To his credit, Quinn has swiped 39 bases in just 178 MLB games and has drawn solid defensive ratings across all three outfield positions. He’s also compiled a solid .286/.351/.407 batting line in Triple-A. However, Quinn is out of minor league options as well, and he’d been projected to receive a modest bump to $700K in arbitration. The dollar amount surely wasn’t of concern to the Phillies so much as the fact that Quinn simply wasn’t viewed as part of the outfield puzzle moving forward.
The Phillies are known to be in the market for center field upgrades, having previously been tied to Starling Marte (now with the division-rival Mets) and Byron Buxton (who signed a seven-year extension and received a full no-trade clause from the Twins). Presumably, the Phils will continue to explore alternative options in the outfield, eyeing at least a new center fielder if not a pair of outfielders to pair with reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper.
Long overdue on Quinn
I’m not sleeping on Philly to make their own splash. Wouldn’t be surprised if they acquired Bryant or Castellanos while trading for an Oakland starter.
Finally DD gets the big move done. Take that Mets!
so long Roman. may your injury issues eventually calm.down some.
Roman✅. Rhys and Kingery next.
dude. they’re not dumping Rhys. get over it.
If no DH in the NL, Rhys or Bohm need to be gone. Combined they have nearly -35 DRS. They are such defensive liabilities -gotta improve there.
I would prefer Rhys.
They should really find someone who will take him
Incoming Pirates waiver claim in 3… 2… 1…
I was actually thinking that as well. Pittsburgh would be the perfect opportunity for him.
It would be a match, the Bucs need OFs.
They should have talked to the buccos,might have gotten Brault
Mets spend 260 million in 2 days while the phillies make a waiver claim. This is absurd that we have done nothing so far in free agency.
Spring training is still over 2 months away. Other teams shouldn’t panic just because the Mets blew their load.
Mets just banged Pamela Anderson and your FO is debating if it aught to kick Hillary out of bed
the last thing you do in free agency is make reactionary moves. DD knows that.
It’s not absurd. It’s early and the landscape may look completely different after the CBA. The Phillies have signed a blockbuster deal every year for the past 4 years and fans still call them cheap. Spending isn’t the issue. Being smart is.
I’m not impressed with their dumpster diving so far. This team has some gaping holes these pickups won’t solve.
htbnm57 Give it a few weeks. There’s so much time. If you look at the times jumping the gun on big FA signings, they’re all playoff starved. I know the Phillies fit that category as well (2nd longest drought in all of baseball), but patience may pay off here. There are so many guys getting ridiculous money right now. Maybe waiting a bit is the way to go.
On another note, the Bryce Harper contract looks like an absolute steal right now compared to some of these contracts we’re seeing.
How long will the lockout last ?
I’m not claiming them to be cheap,although Middleton saying he’d pay the luxury tax is about as blank as a Ben Simmons offseason shooting video.But the blockbusters of the last 4 years dont give them a pass now.Last years blockbusters was Realmuto,and that should’ve been done 3 years ago when they dealt Sixto for him.The deals of 4 years ago were Arrieta,who is already gone,and the move that should’ve never happened with Carlos Santana.Those moves only connect to now because Segura is still here.
This team now is more connected to Middleton saying it’s time to win,to hiring the names of Dombrowski and Girardi,and to selling the fans on their playoff chances til the final week of the season.
I’m with ya on there being plenty of time and names left though,although if we’re going to solidify centerfield,it’s gonna cost us a pick or prospects now.
They desperately need a CF. Quinn, often injured, was still on of their better internal options. Which is sad.
I have to say, even though no major moves have been made yet, the team has done an excellent job adding around the margins. Depth is so important and this is just another example of that. Nice little move.
yep (though if Quinn clears I’d still like him back)
Come all without. Come all within. You’ll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn!
Sorry thing is…..the Phillies not trading Quinn when he had high trade value.
Uh, guess my memory isn’t what it used to be, but exactly when was Quinn’s trade value “high”?
Still better than Brinson. Marlins, what about a speedy 4th OF to give a breather to De La Cruz, Garcia and Sanchez? I know we have Miller in the roster, but this guy can be a steal.
DD knows pitching
After this move the Mets will have to spend another $200M just to keep pace with the Phillies.
Keep dreaming.
Quinn always reminded me of Willie Mays Hayes.Girardi should have had him do pushups at the pate after a popup!!
HOW can the PhiIs afford to give up such a sIugger……IoI