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Phillies Outright Jose Cuas

By Steve Adams | January 10, 2025 at 1:24pm CDT

Right-handed reliever Jose Cuas went unclaimed on waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, MLBTR has learned. He was originally designated for assignment back on Dec. 23, but the holidays freeze up the waiver/DFA process every year, leading to prolonged stints in limbo for a handful of players. Cuas will stick with the Phillies as a non-roster player and be in big league camp this spring as he hopes to compete for another look in the majors.

Cuas, 30, was a September waiver claim out of the Blue Jays organization. He didn’t pitch for the Phillies during the season after joining the organization. He logged a combined 16 1/3 innings between the Jays and Cubs, working to a 7.71 ERA in that small sample. Cuas has pitched 119 1/3 innings in the big leagues and sports a career 4.37 ERA with a 22% strikeout rate, a 12.9% walk rate and a solid 45.2% ground-ball rate.

From 2022-23, Cuas pitched 103 innings for the Royals and Cubs — the first big league experience of his career. During that time, the former infielder notched a tidy 3.84 ERA while fanning 22.2% of his opponents against a 12.5% walk rate. In parts of four Triple-A seasons, the sidearming righty carries a 4.12 ERA, 27.4% strikeout rate and 10.3% walk rate.

Cuas’ journey in baseball has been one of the least traditional you’ll encounter, as chronicled at great length by Alec Lewis of The Athletic a couple years back in a must-read piece for fans of players endure extensive minor league grinds. An 11th-round draft pick by the Brewers as an infielder back in 2015, he was out of baseball a few years later and working as a FedEx driver during the day while training with his brother after dark in freezing weather. Cuas had washed out as a hitter and briefly tinkered with a move to the mound in 2018, but he was released by the Brewers midseason.

Cuas pitched indie ball in 2018 and ’19, parlaying a strong run in the Atlantic League into a minor league look with the D-backs. In 2020, a couple months after the league shut down due to the pandemic, he was released. One of his former D-backs coaches reached out to get Cuas a look in the Dominican Winter League the following offseason. It didn’t lead to a big league deal. He went back to the Atlantic League — this time catching the attention of the Royals, who eventually have him his MLB debut in 2022.

Now sporting more than two full years of big league service, Cuas has pitched in each of the past three MLB seasons. He’s obviously yet to solidify himself as a consistent contributor, but the mere fact that he’s reached this point is somewhat incredible, given his move from the infield to the mound, multiple stints in independent ball, and multiple releases from big league organizations.

With the Phillies, Cuas could have to bide his time before an opportunity arises. Philadelphia has a very veteran bullpen, with young Orion Kerkering (one year of MLB service) and lefty Tanner Banks (2.092 years) the only members under four full years of big league service. Kerkering and Banks are the only two members who can even be optioned, but they’re both locked into spots after nice 2024 seasons. Cuas will join lefty Nick Vespi and righty Cody Stashak as players with some notable big league experience who’ll be non-roster invitees in Phillies camp.

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Philadelphia Phillies Transactions Jose Cuas

A’s Open To Further Rotation Additions
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Diamondbacks Claim René Pinto
View Comments (12)
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12 Comments

  1. PhilliePhan

    9 months ago

    Seems like a mistake that this guy was on the 40 man while we lost Eiberson Castellano to the rule 5 draft.

    3
    Reply
    • VonPurpleHayes

      9 months ago

      Caus and Effect

      8
      Reply
    • CarverAndrews

      9 months ago

      Calculated gamble. There are a number of guys every Rule 5 that we worry about, and a vanishingly small number are selected. Of those selected, a negligible amount actually stick without being offered back. Odds are that, given his youth and experience, it will be hard to carry him all year long. But I agree – lots to like about Eiberson.

      Clearly the Phils thought that Cuas might be able to help them this season; the back end of the 40 man is always a tightrope walk when a team is a contender.

      1
      Reply
  2. Bruce wulff

    9 months ago

    Yet another candidate for the cubbies to a knowlege a mistake was made and pick up in the cheap

    Reply
  3. Mr. McNasty

    9 months ago

    Who?

    Reply
    • Dogbone

      9 months ago

      The man is a danger, to any expensive advertising sign on the field bricks, behind home plate.

      Reply
  4. holecamels35

    9 months ago

    Why is he being let go? Just cuas.

    1
    Reply
  5. thejerkstore

    9 months ago

    i defy anyone to name a worse relief pitcher than Cuas. He is a gas can every time out

    Reply
  6. Jimmy Garbagebag

    9 months ago

    This stinks like dirty trash!

    and HONESTLY i would know! Lmao

    I LITERALLY SLEEP IN TRASH LOL

    Reply
  7. fighterflea

    9 months ago

    With his determination, he’s an easy guy to root for. With his track record, he’s a hard guy to bet on. The Phils are deep in pitching in the near term and a 30 year old like Cuas is not in any discussion pertaining to the long term.

    Reply
  8. Old York

    9 months ago

    Looks like Jose Cuas has a real knack for bouncing back, even if he’s been stuck in Triple-A for now. Talk about a kwas-hing up a comeback!

    Reply
  9. Jiggs

    9 months ago

    Cubs gave away Velasquez to Royals for Cuas, then let Cuas go. Brilliant move Hoyer.

    Reply

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