Earlier in January, we examined five former Philadelphia Phillies players who were still searching for contracts ahead of the 2025 MLB season. Since then, three of them have found new teams. Reliever Jeff Hoffman signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, outfielder Austin Hays joined the Cincinnati Reds, and closer Carlos Estévez landed with the Kansas City Royals. However, the search continues for both Héctor Neris and Whit Merrifield.
Beyond Neris and Merrifield, several other former Phillies remain on the free-agent market as spring training rapidly approaches. Here are six additional notable names still looking to secure a deal before the regular season begins.
Six Former Phillies Still Without a Contract as Spring Training Nears
Nick Pivetta
Nearly a decade ago, at the 2015 trade deadline, Nick Pivetta became a key addition to the Phillies organization when he was acquired from the Washington Nationals in exchange for closer Jonathan Papelbon. Over the next few years, Pivetta developed into a fixture in Philadelphia’s rotation, making his debut in 2017. However, his tenure with the Phillies was inconsistent, as he posted a 19-30 record with an ERA over 5.00 and a WHIP above 1.50 in three of his four seasons with the team.
Following a midseason trade to the Boston Red Sox during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Pivetta began to turn his career around. With Boston, he compiled a 37-41 record with a solid 4.29 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and 718 strikeouts over 633 innings. His 2024 campaign was particularly strong, as he finished with a 4.14 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, 36 walks, and an impressive 172 strikeouts in just 145 2/3 innings across 27 appearances.
Now 31 years old and having delivered reliable performances over the past few seasons, Pivetta presents an appealing option for teams in need of middle-to-back-end rotation depth. While he remains unsigned, it’s only a matter of time before a team takes a chance on him, likely sooner rather than later.
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