The baseball offseason continues to heat up as the Philadelphia Phillies strengthen their pitching staff by adding another reliever to their roster. But here's where it gets interesting: their latest move involves signing a pitcher who has had a tough recent season but still shows potential upside. On Monday, the team officially announced the signing of right-handed relief pitcher Zach Pop to a one-year contract, signaling their desire to bolster their bullpen with experienced depth.
Zach Pop, now 29 years old, faced numerous hurdles during what was supposed to be his 2025 campaign. His season was marred by injuries, and he found himself moving between three different teams in a short period. The trouble started early in March when he was sidelined with elbow discomfort, leading Toronto to release him in early April. Despite these setbacks, Pop didn't give up; he signed a Minor League contract with Seattle, earned a call-up, but then struggled to find his stride. His initial outings saw him surrender 11 earned runs over just 6 2/3 innings—a rough start that led to him being designated for assignment.
After opting for free agency, Pop signed with the New York Mets, but his stint was brief—he only made a single appearance before being designated for assignment again in July. Prior to his recent struggles, Pop's track record with Miami and Toronto was mostly below league-average levels. Over 158 appearances, he posted a cumulative ERA of 4.45, reflecting some inconsistency.
Despite those challenges, Pop's pitching arsenal remains promising. He relies on a three-pitch mix—comprising a sinker, slider, and cutter—that helps him induce ground balls at a notably high rate. For example, in 2025, he achieved a ground ball percentage of 54.5%, fueled largely by his sinker, which averaged 96.4 mph. His most successful period came in 2022, when he started the season with Miami and posted a 3.60 ERA over 18 appearances. Later, he was traded to Seattle in a four-player deal, where he performed remarkably well, allowing only four earned runs across 19 innings. Underlying metrics from that period also demonstrated his effectiveness: a chase rate (the percentage of pitches outside the strike zone that batters swung at) of 39.3%, a very low walk rate of just 2.5%, and a barrel rate of only 5.6%—all signs of a pitcher who can be difficult to hit.
The key to Pop's effectiveness is his ability to execute pitch-to-contact strategies, especially when he's comfortably working at the bottom of the zone and generating soft contact from hitters. His skill set suggests he can be a valuable asset, especially when used strategically.
This signing represents a low-risk gamble for Phillies president Dave Dombrowski and his front office staff. With Pop now occupying the 39th spot on the Phillies' 40-man roster, it’s clear they see potential in him. It's important to note that Pop has no remaining Minor League options, meaning he’ll need to compete for a spot in the team's bullpen during spring training. Will he bounce back from his recent setbacks and become a reliable reliever? Or will this be another fleeting stint? What are your thoughts on this addition—does it make sense for the Phillies, or is it a gamble worth questioning? Share your opinions below.
