The Phillies signed right-hander Austin Brice to a minor league deal this morning, per The Athletic’s Matt Gelb. The deal comes with an invite to big league Spring Training.
Brice, 32 in June, last made an appearance at the big league level for the Pirates back in 2022. The righty made his major league debut in 2016 as a member of the Marlins, though he would ultimately pitch just 14 innings with the club before being sent to Cincinnati as part of the deal that sent Luis Castillo to Cincinnati. Over two seasons with the Reds, Brice struggled to a 5.40 ERA with a matching FIP across 70 innings of work before the club designated him for assignment following the 2018 season. After a series of waiver claims, Brice found himself back in Miami ahead of the 2019 season and enjoyed the best season of his career as he pitched to a solid 3.43 ERA in 44 2/3 innings of work for the Marlins.
Unfortunately, that success at the big league level was short-lived, as Brice has posted a 5.85 ERA in 40 innings of work since the start of the 2020 season and spent the entire 2023 campaign in the minor leagues pitching for the Twins and Diamondbacks, for whom he posted a combined 6.92 ERA in 40 1/3 innings. Despite those brutal numbers last year, Brice’s overall body of work at the Triple-A level still features decent numbers. In 170 1/3 innings of work at the level across six seasons, Brice has posted a 4.54 ERA with a solid 25% strikeout rate against a 10.3% walk rate alongside a strong 47.4% groundball rate.
Those serviceable peripheral numbers are brought down, however, by Brice’s troubles with the longball. Brice has allowed a whopping 17.6% of his fly balls to leave the yard for home runs throughout his major league career, and allowed an even higher percentage at the Triple-A level last year. Given his solid peripherals and penchant for grounders, it’s easy to see how Brice could be a serviceable big league reliever if he can get his home run issues under control.
The right-hander will have a chance to prove himself capable in that regard with the Phillies this spring, where he’ll join fellow NRIs such as Ryan Burr and Nick Snyder in competing for a role in the club’s crowded bullpen. Should Brice fail to make the big league roster out of camp, he’ll likely serve as relief depth at the Triple-A level alongside depth options already on the 40-man roster such as right-handers Michael Rucker and Kaleb Ort.
Lottery ticket, even @31-32.
Worked out for Nelson, Bellatti for a season or so. Why not this guy?
I heard the Phillies signed Moe, Larry, and Curly to minor league deals too today according to an unnamed source reported on the internet.
The three had small stints playing baseball in their Screen Gems shorts and the Phillies are hoping they could be valuable pieces with more humor in the clubhouse if Stubbs becomes too mature and serious for the team. Now that his has a couple of more years under his overalls.
There’s also reports that they are connected in talks with Abbott and Castillo to have them sign minor league deals with the team. And we know what that could lead to…a whole addition of back up players…Who on first, What on second…
Well, they already have Castillo.
They do? Who Diego Castillo? He’s already been off the Phillies team and the Orioles already outrighted him too. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out is the teams motto when picking him up. LOL
Austin Brice, the pride of Hong Kong!
Yes he is !
Rooting for him to find a role and succeed in it…
If he has trouble giving up the long ball, he’s going to have neck strain if he pitches at CBP in July and August.
I don’t think CBP is the band box people make it out to be. You gotta barrel it to go out just to the left & right of CF
Was hoping for Bellinger, Snell or Montgomery. But Brice will do.
Really praying all those Mike Trout to the Phillies trade rumors have some validity to them.
Phillies acquire:
Mike Trout OF (7/248)
Reid Detmers SP
Andrew Wantz RP
Angels acquire:
Nick Castellanos RF (3/60)
Tajuan Walker SP (3/54)
Andrew Bellatti RP
Darrick Hall 1B (Power bat, 5yrs control)
Griff McGarry RHP (#6)
Gunner Mayer RHP (#47)
Casey Martin SS (#48)
How often does it need to be said? Trout won’t come and play for the Phillies because he doesn’t prefer to be in the spotlight and have all the attention.
If he would come and be on the Phillies team it would be non-stop attention on him. That’s not his character. He doesn’t want that.
Give it a break and stop dreaming it.
P.S. Yes, I am a Phillies fan. Not some other team troll. But I am a realist who listens to what people say and live in a reality world.
Trout is NOT going to come and play for the Phillies. Unless maybe it is his last year of his career and feels it might make a good old one last hooray feel good story to go out as a Phillie.