Right-hander David Phelps is retiring, he announced this evening through his agents at Wasserman (Twitter link). Phelps thanked his former teammates, coaches, medical staff, agency and family as well as all the organizations for which he played in a lengthy statement.
A Notre Dame product, Phelps cracked the professional ranks a 14th-round selection of the Yankees in 2008. A few seasons of strong minor league performance garnered him some prospect attention as a potential back-end starter. He reached the big leagues for the first time in April 2012, kicking off a rookie season in which he’d post a 3.34 ERA through 99 2/3 innings. Phelps also pitched three times for New York that postseason, logging 3 1/3 innings in what would prove his only career playoff action.
Phelps started 11 of 33 outings for New York that year and held a similar swing role for the next couple seasons. For the first three seasons of his career, he’d toss 299 1/3 innings with the Yankees over 87 appearances (40 starts). He posted a cumulative 4.21 ERA while holding opponents to a .251/.330/.399 slash. Over the 2014-15 offseason, New York dealt Phelps and infielder Martín Prado to the Marlins for Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Jones and then Low-A pitcher Domingo Germán, who’s still a Yankee more than eight years later.
During his first season with the Fish, Phelps remained primarily a rotation member. He started 19 of 23 outings, working to a 4.50 ERA. By his second season in South Florida, he’d moved almost exclusively to relief. That kicked off a second act as a generally reliable bullpen arm. Phelps posted a 2.28 ERA with a 32.4% strikeout percentage over 86 2/3 innings in 2016. After throwing another 47 frames with a 3.45 ERA in the next season’s first half, he changed organizations for a second time.
The Mariners acquired Phelps in a deadline deal that sent four prospects to Miami. Three of those players never reached the big leagues, but the Marlins’ acquisition of then High-A righty Pablo López turned out exceptionally well. The trade wasn’t especially successful for the Mariners, as Phelps pitched just 10 times before suffering an injury to his throwing elbow. He first underwent surgery to remove bone chips from the joint, then unfortunately required a Tommy John reconstruction that cost him the entire 2018 campaign.
Phelps hit free agency for the first time that offseason, landing with the Blue Jays on a buy-low $2.5MM pact. Once he returned to health, he proved a single middle-innings option for Toronto. Phelps performed well in 17 appearances before being traded to the Cubs at the deadline for Tom Hatch. He had a fine second half before again hitting free agency when Chicago declined a club option for 2020.
The past three seasons have seen the Missouri native continue to bounce around the league. He signed a one-year guarantee with Milwaukee going into 2020 and was dealt to the Phillies for a trio of minor league pitchers at the deadline. Phelps was hit hard in his limited time with Philadelphia, leading the club to decline an option. He returned to Toronto on a one-year deal over the offseason and got off to a brilliant start through mid-May.
Injuries again intervened, though, as Phelps suffered a rupture of his right lat. That required season-ending surgery, one which Phelps acknowledged he initially believed would end his career. He was fortunately able to rehab and got another shot on a minor league deal with Toronto last offseason. He cracked the MLB roster out of camp for what’d be his third season as a Blue Jay.
Phelps would conclude his career with a flourish. He stayed healthy all year, a significant accomplishment in its own right given the injury he’d suffered the season before. Phelps posted his best numbers since his Miami days, providing the Jays 63 2/3 innings of 2.83 ERA ball through 65 appearances. That’d quite likely have earned him another MLB contract this winter if he wanted to return for an 11th season. Phelps indicated he’d known by the end of last season he was finished playing, however.
He spent a decade and a half in the professional ranks, including the past 10 years at the MLB level. Over 682 2/3 career frames, he posted a 3.80 ERA while striking out 22.9% of opposing hitters. In addition to his 67 starts, he finished out 45 games (including seven saves). Phelps held 78 leads as a middle reliever or setup option, suiting up for seven organizations. Baseball Reference calculated his career earnings a hair above $15MM. MLBTR congratulates Phelps on a long and accomplished career and wishes him all the best in his post-playing days.
What???? This man left 20 million on the table, and maybe more. Texas needs to bribe him away from retirement.
I think chaim bloom tried that. Boston was going for a washed up ‘expendables’ type theme with its relief core this offseason. Get all the over-the-hill guys together for one last hurrah… except most are long enough in the tooth they say ‘huzzah’ instead.
If that is their plan, Aroldis Chapman is still available.
Good evening, Mr. Phelps. Your job should you decide to accept it…..”Sorry. I’m retiring.”
He got his 10 years of service time. Congrats on a successful career.
He pulled a Constanza and went out on a high note. Good for him!
He got his ten years with his body in tact and is peacing out!! Good for him.
Good for him. Go out on a healthy season rather than injured.
Congrats on the career to him! He just crossed the 10 service year line so he’s got his pension
You mean his full pension. They rate it in 1/4 season increments, but, max it out at 10 years.
Of course, the way inflation is headed they better make some healthy col increases of that 170k a year will barely buy a cheeseburger (I kid, mostly).
Whoops yeah missed a word
No shame in that. I considered myself a fairly dedicated baseball fan of decades, season ticket holder for years, having been to I don’t know how many games before I even learned that 10 years was full vesting target for player pensions.
Anyone who didn’t know how that worked reading your initial comment thinking that’s all there is to it shouldn’t be embarassed in the least.
I don’t know why I haven’t heard of David Phelps because he made his way around the league and was a decent pitcher. Enjoy retirement Mr Phelps!
Sorry to see him hang it up. When he pitched for the Yankess you could tell he really gave a damn and I loved his attitude on the mound. I am glad he got his 10 years in, but I’m hoping he has a change heart because he’s such a competitor.
Don’t worry about Mr Phelps.
Rumor has it he has a government job lined up..
He’s going to be in charge of a special squad
that takes on seemingly Impossible Missions.
This comment section will self-destruct in 5 seconds……
I was looking at stats earlier and was shocked that Adam Warren was retired. I remember pitchers like him, warren, Cody Eppley and his side arm and Chasen Shreve among many other small name but at times very effective pitchers. Solid career with ups and downs but surely made it interesting.
Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Joba, etc. – all prospects I used to watch. Then again, I have friends whom worked in law enforcement straight out of college. All but one has retired. I’m getting old…
His pension fully vested last year, good time to call it quits.
toronto has a bullpen coach opening
That is not the worst suggestion that has ever been brought up on here.
But I doubt he’ll do it this year, but down the road, why not.
Surprising in the sense players usually retire when they’re done. Phelps still could contribute.
As a lifelong Yankees fan, I was always a huge fan of David Phelps.
Phelps gave his best every outing, whether or not he happened to have his best stuff.In that respect, he was like the great Derek Jeter: the results might not always be there, but the effort & desire were ALWAYS there.
Thank you for a wonderful career with the Yankees, David, and I forgive you for your successes with Toronto ;-).
I hope you have a wonderful & happy retirement & much success in whatever follows.
Baseball needs stars, but it also needs layers like Phelps. who always gave an honest effort and often performed creditably.
Nice career. Interesting he retires as one of the young prospects that was traded for him is about to be traded as a highly sought for piece – Pablo Lopez.
Jays brass always loved this guy. Great teammate. Solid man.
I became a David Phelps fan in 2010 when I watched him go 6-0, 2.04 ERA in Trenton. I’ve followed his career ever since. I even got a kick out of it when I watched him (on TV) strike out the side in Yankee Stadium in late August, this past season.
Thanks, David & good luck in the future!
First autograph I ever got for my grandson was David Phelps. Thank you, sir. Best to you in retirement.
After reading the recent MLBTR article about RPs with excellent peripherals, I thought this guy would’ve been signed to a decent deal by a contender. Oh well. Enjoy your future endeavors, Mr. Phelps!
Surprised he retired. He was effective not great but much better than some of the bp guys we had in the pen.
Weird that he ended up getting traded so much. Including no repeat engagements with any of his prior teams. Something about him must have been rubbing people wrong
Lifetime health coverage – nice
Wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up in broadcasting. Very thoughtful, articulate and engaging and a great interview.