The Phillies announced this evening that infielder Buddy Kennedy has cleared waivers and has elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Triple-A.
The 26-year-old was DFA’d by Philadelphia multiple times this season. Kennedy has gotten into just 58 big league games during his career across the Diamondbacks, Tigers, and Phillies organizations but entered the 2025 season with no options remaining after several years of being utilized primarily as optionable infield depth. Kennedy’s .193/.287/.296 slash line across 157 major league plate appearances is hardly spectacular, though he’s an adequate defender at both second and third base with a .283/.380/.441 slash line for his career at Triple-A.
That on-base ability has shown up somewhat in the majors given his 10.8% walk rate, and his 24.2% strikeout rate is hardly out of line with what’s to be expected in the league’s current environment. Kennedy’s biggest flaw as a hitter is that he’s hit for previous little power in the majors, and even at Triple-A he’s never slugged more than 13 homers in a season. That lack of power has held him back from getting an extended big league opportunity to this point, but perhaps now that he’s elected free agency and can be signed by any club on a low-risk minor league deal he’ll be able to find a more robust opportunity on a big league bench somewhere.
Alternatively, players with Kennedy’s substantial success in the minor leagues who haven’t gotten much attention in the majors have often found success trying their hand at playing overseas. Matt Davidson and Guillermo Heredia are two hitters who have found substantial success in the KBO League, and Eric Thames famously made it back to the majors after struggling initially by posting sensational numbers in South Korea. At just 26 years old, Kennedy is certainly young enough to have the opportunity to try his hand at playing in a league overseas and return to affiliated ball if he finds success there.
Look at Buddy when Buddy elects free agency
The Phillies just let him go? How about using him as the trade chip for Dennis Santana?
That’s what a reliever like Dennis Santana is worth but DUMBrowski will send some more actual prospects to the Pirates for relievers who will achieve nothing for the Phillies.
Then to cap off the destruction he’ll draft another 20 year old short bus high school player with the Phillies 1st round pick.
For Buddy Kennedy? Have you ever watched him
@ Heels On The Field,
What you’re describing isn’t destruction, but obliteration. Obliteration like no one has ever seen before!
@Bart – Or, at the very least, setting back the team for a few weeks according to actual intelligence reports.
Relax Heels – Buddy Kennedy is a AAAA player that would bring back a Primanti Bros. sandwich or two via trade, and he is out of options so he had to pass through waivers.
Just a note – whenever anyone on here uses the pejorative “Dumbrowski”, it let’s everyone know that there is no merit to anything else being said.
Speaking of the Phillies, how’s about that Zack Wheeler?! What an ace.
It sure is fun watching him pitch. One missed location away from a perfect game.
You consistently have the worst takes on the Phillies.
I can hear it now….친구 친구 친구
Nippon, my fellow nippers.
Buddy electing free agency, isn’t that like telling your kids that Mr. Muggles has found his forever home