The Phillies announced that they have signed right-hander Zach Pop to a major league deal. Their 40-man roster count jumps to 39. Salary figures haven’t been reported.
It’s a bit surprising to see Pop command a big league deal. He bounced around during the 2025 season. He opened the year with the Blue Jays but was released shortly after Opening Day. Pop got to the big leagues for four appearances with the Mariners and pitched one time as a member of the Mets. He allowed 12 runs (11 earned) in just 6 2/3 MLB innings. That pushed his career earned run average to 4.88 over 162 1/3 frames spanning five seasons.
The Canadian-born righty made 20 appearances in the minors this year. He allowed a 4.19 ERA over 19 1/3 innings. His underlying numbers were more encouraging. Pop fanned more than a quarter of opponents against a manageable 8.9% walk rate. He got ground-balls at a massive 75% clip while sitting in the 96-97 MPH range with his sinker. Pop has always done a good job keeping the ball down, running a career 55% grounder percentage in the big leagues.
Philadelphia was intrigued enough by the stuff to give Pop one of their two vacant roster spots. Assuming he remains on the 40-man into Spring Training, he’ll get an opportunity to battle for a middle relief job in camp. Pop has exhausted his minor league option years, so the Phils cannot send him down without running him through waivers.
Philly has six bullpen spots accounted for if everyone gets through camp healthy. Jhoan Duran, Brad Keller, José Alvarado, Tanner Banks and the out-of-options Jonathan Bowlan are locks. Right-hander Orion Kerkering should pretty safely be in there as well unless he has a terrible Spring Training. Pop and Rule 5 pick Zach McCambley either need to stick in the big leagues or be taken off the 40-man (and offered back to the Marlins after clearing waivers, in McCambley’s case).
Zach Pop must have a really awesome agent representing him
Jays fan here. Enjoy him…he sucks.
That is too much information!
okay
Hop on Pop
“Snap, Crackle, and Pop.”
Pop is the little mischievous one.
Which one the cereal killer
Count Chocula and Tony the Tiger are calm dudes compared to Cinnamon Toast Crunch
Pop goes the weasel?
It’s hard to believe this guy has not a single nickname listed on his BBREF profile.
What about his brother Snap Crackle Pop?
Sorry Phillies fans 🙁
Zach Pop Pop and Mom will be happy hearing the good news.
Signing all these right handed relievers makes me believe Kerkering is going to be traded somewhere along the way.
Which I feel might be in the best interest for Kerkering to get him over the playoffs malfunction play…. with a change of scenery.
Or not.
I guess extra depth doesn’t hurt
He’s so frustrating to watch. His stuff looks good, then he hangs it or can’t locate it. If he learned to harness his stuff he’d be solid, just don’t know if he’ll ever find that.
He needs a strikeout pitch. His hard sinker is great but not when that’s all you got.
Jordan Romano’s replacement
Batting practice gopher ball pitcher.
What are we doing….. Just leave the 40 man spots open as they are more valuable than these bums.
That 2.5 WHIP should come in handy
14.85 ERA. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Dunce Dave strikes again.
Your Phillies just brought 2025 version of Jordan Romano
He’s a very poor man’s Taijuan Walker.
Hopefully this is a misprint and it’s a minor league contract . This guy sounds awful.
Depends on how much they pay him. Worth a shot. Phillies pitching coach has helped pitchers open to it. Sanchez did and Romano wasn’t open to changes.
As a Philly fan, we just have to look at these kind of signings as depth pieces. He’s got no shot to make the bullpen barring an injury, but won’t be terrible as a depth piece. Most teams go through 20 pitchers per season so it’s just about depth. Expect a few more of these.
Phillies wanted to add some pop to every opposing teams lineup.