4:40pm: The Rays announced that Phillips was traded to the Orioles in exchange for cash.
4:28pm: The Orioles are acquiring outfielder Brett Phillips from the Rays, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Tampa Bay designated Phillips for assignment yesterday after acquiring Jose Siri from the Astros. He was reported to have interest from multiple clubs earlier this morning.
Phillips, 28, is an all-world defender with prolific strikeout issues that have weighed down an otherwise enviable blend of power and speed. He’s hitting just .147/.225/.250 this season and carries a tepid career .190/.276/.350 batting line in 883 plate appearances. That said, Phillips has a more passable .212/.296/.407 slash against right-handed pitching, has swatted 28 home runs and has gone 36-for-41 in the rough equivalent of one and a third full season’s worth of plate appearances at the MLB level. He can also be controlled for another two seasons via arbitration.
It’s unlikely the O’s have an everyday role in mind for Phillips — barring a more stunning trade of an established outfielder such as Cedric Mullins or Austin Hays. But there’s good value to Phillips’ blend of speed, defense and power coming off the bench.
Jal179
Phillips hits .150. I don’t care how funny you are, that’s complete garbage.
Samuel
How’s your rotisserie league team doing?
neo
hey, give the guy credit: he’s a good wind machine, fanning pitchers in more than 40% of his plate appearances.
Jal179
That K rate is EPIC
PoesO's
I mean im not as fired up as you…but I would have prefered a Stowers promotion instead of this…
NineChampionships
Kinda surprised he fell all the way to the O’s. Would have liked Oakland to take a chance on him.
hiflew
He wasn’t claimed on waivers, they traded him. You can trade a DFA’d guy to anyone in the 10 days. Claims don’t apply until after 10 days unless original teams just want to let them go early.
alwaysgo4two
He fell for a reason. Great smile, great laugh. Good guy…just can’t hit.
Captain Judge99
The Sting Rays have life in the AL East now
rsailler
Baseball is fun!
Dumpster Divin Theo
This! More reasons to jump on the Os bandwagon
Samuel
Perfect team for him!
Nervehammer
I wonder why they didn’t just send Phillips in the three team trade yesterday
Samuel
Am sure there was a legal reason they had to do it that way.
He obviously was a part of the trade.
Captain Judge99
2022 World Series Champion Sting Rays
Sideline Redwine
Keep using your terms, someone will laugh eventually. Surely your mom is on the discussion board too?
Captain Judge99
@Sideline Redwine- let’s lay off of Moms. I’m board of yours.
Cohn Joppolella
Oooooooooooh snap!!!!
StPeteStingRays
It’s bored, troll! Go back to your basement.
Hodor 2
“Board” of yours? Who wood have guessed?
Dumpster Divin Theo
Well done. StPete clearly doesn’t understand a master pun. Unless it smacks him upside the head
StPeteStingRays
Captn Crunch is NOT clever enough to make up a pun. His ignorance was just in the vicinity of a pun.
misunderestimated
@ captain judge
Is this supposed to be comedy? I’m really confused
NickVin
2022 New York Yankees: chokes in playoffs again
StPeteStingRays
But, but how about our 87 dusty rings?!?
1bertu
You know things are looking bleak when you get dfa’d for Jose Siri
Mrsuntan
Not to bleak he will still get paid more in next 2 months then you make in 10 years
Ancient Pistol
A lot of sub-100 OPS+ guys moving around today.
HalosHeavenJJ
Lose your fan favorite, get another team’s fan favorite.
There’s more to this game and W’s and L’s. Might as well let your fans have some fun while watching both.
StPeteStingRays
I like your perspective on this.
HQMER
Orioles new closer.
Dumpster Divin Theo
This!
Captain Judge99
Nobody really cares about the loser Sting Rays, they suck like- @StPeteStingRays
Hodor 2
Do you really just come to this site to troll every Rays post with the same comment? I mean how pathetic is that? At least come up with some new material and try to be clever about it.
StPeteStingRays
Form equals function. Of course sting rays suck, otherwise they would have a difficult time eating.
P.S. I admit this might be too much for you to comprehend, but at least try.
birdsfan415
like this move, even if he can’t hit its better for the clubhouse
Samuel
A great base stealer (to go with Mateo and Mullins) and base runner; excellent OF and maybe has the strongest and most accurate arm of any OF in MLB.
Expect to see him in as a pinch runner late in close games, and then play the field.
RegularEd 2
Filling the Ryan McKenna roll but with a stronger arm.
dirtbagbaseball427
This guy should not even be in the major leagues…but ok
dythomp1995
I have lurked here for years. I never wanted an account but Captain Judge has motivated me to join, just so I could mute him.
StPeteStingRays
That account holder is an incredible tool. Welcome to the comment section and congratulations on your first mute!
Alkie
Um, Rays already *had* Cash.
speejanny
Joey Khrehbiel is apparently one of his closest friends, so that’s pretty cool for them.
AceKing
Wasn’t this guy a HUGE prospect at one point?
Mrsuntan
Yes
bravesfan
Low risk pickup for them. Nice
NattyBroh
Wild
Card
Bound
Othosos
Mike Elias drafted him in the sixth round in 2012. He must have some idea of how to use him. Not that I see it but he is pretty good at what he does.
AE86
Is Elias converting Camden Yards to wind power?
C Yards Jeff
@Othosos; “not that I see it but he is pretty good at what he does”. Yep! Something unique about GM Elias and his staff. As an Os fanatic, I’m not complaining.
I thought for sure with Mancini gone, someone from AAA would get a call up. Fooled me. But then again, September 1st is near!
AE86
Yeah, he’s cheap.
gr81t2
Why would they pay cash for this guy? Why why why? The Os have several highly touted outfielders in the minors, they don’t need this garbage to fill a roster spot. Bring up a young gun.
AE86
They don’t have regular atbats to give somebody in the OF. Mullins, Santader, and Hays are the starters. My guess is this guy will spot start and they will rotate out the OF through the DH spot to keep their legs fresh. Not a situation you want to put a rookie into that you intend to be a starter. Let them get their ABs regularly in the minors.
PoesO's
Not sure I understand this, was hoping to see Stowers get his ride up to the majors after the Mancini trade