The White Sox have released outfielder Brett Phillips, according to James Fegan from SoxMachine. Phillips had signed a minor league deal with the club back in January.
Phillips, who will celebrate his 30th birthday at the end of the month, is a veteran of seven big league seasons who first made his debut with the Brewers back in 2017. He’s generally struggled at the plate throughout his career with a .187/.272/.347 line that’s 29% worse than league average by measure of wRC+, but has nonetheless earned his spot on major league clubs in recent years thanks to his skills on the basepaths and in the field. During his time with the Rays from 2020 to 2022, Phillips swiped 24 bases in 27 attempts while recording +21 Outs Above Average and +17 Defensive Runs Saved.
Since leaving the Rays, however, Phillips has faltered somewhat in all aspects of his game as he’s struggled to find consistent playing time at the big league level. He appeared in eight games with the Orioles down the stretch in 2022 but hit a paltry .118/.118/.235 that was well below even his usual standards. He joined the Angels on a big league deal last year but made it into just 39 games with the club while spending much of the year at the Triple-A level. In the majors, Phillips was graded as a scratch defender by both OAA and DRS last year as he stole three bases in four attempts and struck out in more than half of his 71 trips to the plate.
The struggles Phillips has endured in both find and taking advantage of opportunities at the big league level led him to sign a minor league deal with the White Sox shortly after the new year that seemingly positioned him with a strong shot to make the club’s roster as a fourth outfielder out of Spring Training. Unfortunately, that didn’t come to fruition as the White Sox later added defensively-gifted youngster Dominic Fletcher via trade while signing veteran outfielders Kevin Pillar and Robbie Grossman in free agency, all three of whom made the roster over Phillips.
Since then, the White Sox have made changes to the big league roster, with both Fletcher and Pillar moving off the 26-man as a result. Phillips was passed over once again, however, as the White Sox instead turned to non-roster veterans Tommy Pham and Rafael Ortega to fill out the club’s outfield mix while Luis Robert Jr. is on the shelf. With Phillips evidently buried on the Chicago depth chart, it appears the sides have made the decision to part ways in order to allow the center fielder to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
It’s unclear where Phillips might find that role, given his struggles at the Triple-A level this year. While he’s only stepped to the plate 57 times with his former club’s affiliate in Charlotte, he’s struck out in 47.4% of those at-bats with a slash line of .120/.228/.280. That being said, he could still be a worthwhile depth option for a club looking to add a quality defender in center field who can serve as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement off the bench.
Who?
The man with the best laugh in baseball.
What, you don’t know how to click a link?
Halo11: I do, but with the current Sox roster, why bother?
Mr. Airplane, that’s who.
Yes, the one and only Mr airplane
Sox and Cards looking pretty evenly matched. Which says a lot.
He’s a great dude. Will sign for kid after kid and high five them all.
But when you’re getting cut by the Angels and White Sox it is time to get on with your life.
“He’s a great dude”…He’s only about 110 days from 5 years service time and that probably means something towards his MLB pension. I never thought much of him as a player, but I do wish him the best of luck.
Great guy, just not worthy of a major league guarantee.
I can attest to this (genuinely good to fans and kids esp) as I saw out in right field and watched his interactions with fans before and after innings when he was with the Norfolk Tides and was playing in Durham against the local Bulls team. He looked like he was really enjoying being able to play his dream and he was at max effort even as he was backing up the CF. The guy looked really fast even if , as the article says, he’s a bit weak at the plate.
I do hope he can get it together and sign on with another team (although being passed over by the White Sox is a pretty damning situation).
Brebbia was only going to need two more pitches to strike out the side. The rain delay is only putting off the inevitable.
Update: It took three pitches. My bad.
Evidence the White Sox have a smarter GM than the Angels. ThevAngels signed him tons major league contract last year.
Of course being smarter than the Angels GM is a very low bar.
(White Sox GM) Getz is saying to hold his Beer.
Not sure about that take.
Surprised he wasn’t called up…
I think the angels are look for more trash
White Sox have been 4-4(though it should have been 5-3 or 6-2 if they didn’t get swept by the Twins). They haven’t played that bad since the Rays sweep. But the ALC got stronger and that’s a bad look for the White Sox.
they have nothing but played bad. They may be the worst team ever, and that’s sad considering what baseball is letting happen with these loser teams and organizations like the A’s and Marlins
Meta, the A’s are rolling along and getting better.
They won’t be the worst team of all time. It’s almost impossible to lose 120+games. They’ll be “regular” bad. Like 56-61 wins.
It’s cute to pretend Moncada is a major league player.
Brett Philips career runs on the power of friendship