The Phillies announced that six players — outfielders Odúbel Herrera and Travis Jankowski, infielder Ronald Torreyes, catcher Andrew Knapp and right-handers Ramón Rosso and J.D. Hammer — have all cleared outright waivers. Each member of that group has elected free agency.
Herrera is the most notable of this bunch, although it was apparent his time in the Philly organization was nearing its end when the team declined his option on Wednesday. He has fewer than six seasons of big league service, so he’d technically remained eligible for arbitration, but he was an obvious non-tender decision at that point. Rather than wait until next month’s non-tender deadline, the Phils will cut him loose and clear a roster spot a few weeks early.
The move officially brings to a close Herrera’s six-season tenure in Philadelphia. Selected out of the Rangers’ organization in the 2014 Rule 5 draft, the left-handed hitter offered strong production on both sides of the ball over his first few major league campaigns. The Phils rewarded him with a long-term extension in December 2016, but his production started to slip by 2018.
Herrera performed terribly for the first month and a half in 2019 before being arrested and charged with domestic assault. MLB suspended him for the remainder of that season, and Herrera spent all of last year in the minor leagues after being outrighted off the roster. He returned to the majors in 2021, serving as Philly’s primary center fielder and hitting a slightly below-average .260/.310/.416 over 492 plate appearances.
Knapp has been a career-long Phillie, appearing in the majors in each of the past five seasons. The switch-hitting backstop has worked primarily in a reserve capacity, mashing in a brief 2020 run before stumbling to a .152/.215/.214 mark over 159 trips to the plate this past season. Projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for a $1.2MM salary if tendered an arbitration contract, he’ll instead be let go as the Phils look elsewhere for a J.T. Realmuto backup.
Torreyes and Jankowski have bounced around the league as role players in recent seasons. Both players were arbitration-eligible, with Torreyes projected for a $1.6MM salary and Jankowski slated to make around $900K. The Phils will let both go and look elsewhere to fill their respective utility infielder and backup outfielder roles. Torreyes hit .242/.286/.346 in 344 plate appearances in 2021; Jankowski slashed .252/.364/.351 in 157 tallies at the dish.
Neither Rosso nor Hammer had been eligible for arbitration, but the front office decided to reallocate their spots on the 40-man roster. Rosso posted a 6.11 ERA/4.95 SIERA over 17 2/3 combined MLB innings between 2020-21. Hammer owns a 4.38 ERA/5.07 SIERA in 39 frames dating back to 2019.
idve thought Toe wouldve been a decent arb guy
Agreed. I hope they try to resign him at a lower cost, though I can’t imagine his arbitration price was very high. Torreyes saved them a number of times throughout the season.
The Phillies need to outright a lot more players than that. Harper, Realmuto and Wheeler are the only great players on the team right now. Obviously you keep Nola. Who cares about he rest? Go ahead and spend more “stupid money” Philadelphia. You’re still going to lose to the Braves again next season.
you mean the same team they played meaningful games with late this year?
Yea this comment is just painfully ignorant. Phillies rotation is very solid. Outrighting players doesn’t mean anything if you have no one to replace them with. The “stupid money” comment is so overblown, especially when the 3 biggest FA signings have really worked out so far and can even be seen as bargains.
Package Hoskins and Nola for Byron Buxton. If Hoskins isn’t enough see if they’ll take some Mota sticks as a sweetener for Hoskins
lol
Hoskins hate is ridiculous.
This is a clown comment, right bro? BB has had significant injury issues his entire career. No way I’d trade one of our best power hitters and our 2nd best pitcher for someone who can’t stay healthy.
and that’s exactly why
no. this is kelly clarkson
Wheeler, Nola, and Eflin are a solid 1-3. They could go big and go after Robbie Ray or Kevin Gausman to give them 4 solid starters, or go with a lesser but still solid option like Jon Gray, Alex Wood, Alex Cobb, Eduardo Rodriguez, or Steven Matz,
I actually thino Suarez and Gibson are even better tgan Eflin. So technically the Phils have a solid 1-5 if Eflin is healthy. They can add another starter for depth, but it can be a backend guy. Infield and CF is what they need. And a closer.
I guess you were under a rock while Ranger Suarez was pitching. Dude was better than pre-injury deGrom.
Are you joking? Nola is the best player in that deal.
Not possible
Buxton is a stud but Nola & Hoskins is way too high for someone who can’t stay on the field
Correct, The Mets Missed WAR comment is ignorant and hateful. But he is right about losing to the Braves again. The Braves have drafted well and done a great job in developing them and getting players like Acuna and Albies to sign very team friendly contracts. I don’t expect Suarez is have another year under 2.00 but I do think he will turn out to be their #2 starter. The Phillies – like the Mets – need to have a lot of things break right for them next year to contend for NL East or even make wild card.
Definitely right about losing to the Braves again, who have more division titles than any team in the league. It’s an organization that is consistently run well. At the same time, I commend the Phillies for at least trying to be competitive. If the Phillies took 2 out of 3 against the Braves at the end of the year, the WS champs aren’t even in the playoffs. That’s insane because the Braves are much better than the Phils.
Is it though. Nola is another subpar season from being an ace to 2nd starter to fourth real quick. Hoskins is prone to major Ofers and stinks defensively
so? Buxton’s a rental who could very well mist most of the single year you have him for?
Your crappy Muts won’t lose to them too.Oh I forgot no GM,no MGR and a sucky owner who keeps getting turned down even by some of the worst candidates.Good Luck cellar dweller.
That’s absolutely ridiculous, DD isn’t that stupid.
They can probably sign him cheaper as a FA. They may do that.
Toe is a very solid utility infielder and will no doubt find a job somewhere, perhaps even back with the Phil’s. Gerardo loves him.
I love Toe too… probably wouldn’t fit on the Yankees, but would love to have him back anyway
Nah, Freddy Galvis will assume Torreyes’ role in 2022.
Galvis is a FA also.
The 1990s guy who performed “Rico Suave?”
jd hammer really showed some potential after the all star break. wish they could hold onto him. would be a shame for him to go to another team and ball out
Surprised by Hammer and Torreyes. I will trust that DD has a plan.
@ allphilly;
Agreed. Both should latch on somewhere. Hammer can be developed by a team that works well with pitchers……Guardians?….they just let Wittgren go.
Hammer and Rosso would be solid guys for the Pirates IMO
Not terribly sad to see any of these guys go, but the Phillies have even more holes now. Lots of work to do. Let’s do it, DD.
i mean, they can just bring Odubel and Toe back for less. the rest are very fungible.
Yup. All true.
I heard a rumor the Phils need some help in the bullpen.
Knapp a bit of a surprise just because they seemed so stuck on him as a backup. But based on his production – no surprise. Hammer and Rosso a bit surprising. Rosso doesn’t hit arbitration for 3 years and, while his MLB numbers were lousy, it was 17.2 innings and he had good minor league numbers – 2.95 ERA but he did poorly at AAA so they might see his ceiling and want to cut bait.
They have younger more talented options for less than Knapp
to be fair, im still not 100% sure they think Marchan is ready for full-time backup role.
O’Hoppe seems like a great prospect and Knapp is sun-Mendoza
Sub
None of them are a big loss. The may bring back torreyes at a low price like they did this year. The will sign a bunch of minor league free agents before the winter’s over. Hammer has a shot but choked the last 6 weeks of the season.
I think Ronald Torreyes is a full time SS for the Tigers….
I see Correa as a full-time SS for the Tigers….. at least when he’s healthy. Let’s see whose prediction is closer.
I loved Toe. He played well early on in a reserve role. Had a number of clutch hits with RISP. But like a lot of role players, their weaknesses get exposed when they are asked to play every day. That was Torreyes after Bohm was sent down. Over the final six weeks of the season he was practically an automatic out. Freddy Galvis will most likely assume Torreyes’ role in 2022. Freddy is a fan favorite in Philly, and even though he may have lost a half step, he still brings Gold Glove quality defense whenever he plays.
I could see them offering Torreyes a major league contract at a league minimum salary.
Alec Bohm still hasn’t touched home plate.
You just won the World Series and you’re holding onto that?
Sore winner?
The moves open up room on the 40-man. Dunno, DD must think he has prospects that need to be added in order to protect them from next month’s Rule 5 draft.. That, or he already has his sights set on players he’d rather sign than the six he let walk. Given the names released, that bar is set pretty low.
Oh, and the Phillies aren’t trading Hoskins for Buxton, let alone Hoskins and another player for Buxton.
Lastly, I hate to see Cutch go. But at his option number, I can see why the Phillies declined the option. Hoping they can bring him back at a lower number on a one-year deal. Solid player, and an even more solid person. One of my favorite MLB players, and I felt that way even before he joined the Phillies. Still can see the joy in that little boy’s face in the stands after Cutch gave him his batting gloves.
Torreyes was a surprise since we know Joe likes his versatility.. Before the season ended, I posted we are seeing the last of Andrew Knapp..The Phillies finally have some talented defensive catchers in the system. Ruben tried for years to fill that need..
Rafael Marchan will be the backup…
Knappy as Gabe called him should have been outta here long ago he sucked.They need to trade with the A’s get Matt Olsen 1b.Buxton stinks and is always hurt.