The Phillies have signed right-hander Jacob Waguespack to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. He has been assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The IronPigs’ roster lists Waguespack as on the injured list.
Waguespack was on the Rays’ 40-man roster as of a couple of weeks ago. He was designated for assignment when outfielder Jonny DeLuca was reinstated from the 60-day IL. Waguespack was on the minor league IL at the time. Injured players can’t be placed on outright waivers, so that gave the Rays little choice to but to release him, which allowed him to sign with the Phils.
It’s unclear what injury is ailing Waguespack. His last minor league game was on May 20th, over two months ago. Presumably, the Phils expect him to be healthy at some point before the end of the season.
Regardless, it’s a pretty low-risk signing for the Phillies. They’re not giving Waguespack a roster spot. Also, since the Rays released him, they remain on the hook for Waguespack’s $1.3MM salary this year. If the Phils call him up at any point, they would only have to pay him a prorated portion of the $760K league minimum salary. Whatever they pay would be subtracted from Tampa’s commitments.
Waguespack hasn’t had much major league success, with a 5.11 earned run average in 105 2/3 innings. However, he did have an encouraging performance in Japan a few years back. Pitching for the Orix Buffaloes in 2022 and 2023, he logged 116 1/3 innings with a 4.02 ERA and 29% strikeout rate.
That prompted the Rays to sign him as a depth arm ahead of 2024, though he’s largely been on optional assignment and/or injured since then. He tossed 10 innings in the majors last year and none so far in 2025. His minor league work since signing with the Rays has been good, with a 2.93 ERA, 30.5% strikeout rate and 5.2% walk rate in 43 innings.
Photo courtesy of Reinhold Matay, Imagn Images
The legend returns home
Does his minor league salary get subtracted from the Rays’ obligation as well?
My son is at Iron Pigs camp today, tomorrow and Friday, wonder if he’ll see him there, lol
This guy, this PITCHER – because it could only be a pitcher – has appeared in 31 MLB games.
Thirty one games and from that he has accumulated over two years of service time.
Only a pitcher.
Hey if you’re trying to build some upper minors depth, there’s a RHP Indy Atlantic League Cam Robinson (5-1) 0.54 ERA and leads the league with 15 saves. 25 or 26 years old. Same goes for the batting leader, Mason. 1B/OF flirting with the triple crown. Ryan Pressly & Bobby Dalbec would be worth a minor league deal as well, in my opinion on this slow news Wednesday.
Phillies smokin that Wagues pack
Packer Park will be celebrating Jake’s arrival!
The Phillies were noticeably very wague about the details. Hard to find anyone who would spack on the record.