Phillies Reportedly Add Reliever on Minor-League Deal

The Phillies made a small addition Thursday, signing LHP Nick Vespi to a minor-league deal, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Vespi will have an invite to Major League Spring Training as part of the deal, Gelb notes. 

Vespi is 6-foot-3, 225 pounds and 29 years old. He was an 18th round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2015 MLB Draft out of Palm Beach State College. He made 45 appearances for the O's the last three seasons, all of which came out of the bullpen. Across those games, he posted a 3.88 ERA and 4.23 FIP. Vespi, though, spent the bulk of this past season at Triple-A Norfolk, where he struggled mightily, finishing with a 7.23 ERA and issuing 31 walks over 29 appearances. 

The Phillies signed LHP Nick Vespi to a minor league contract, according to @MattGelb. pic.twitter.com/nq2cpxnbnG

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) December 19, 2024

Vespi utilizes a three-pitch mix, consisting of an 89.5 mph cutter, 83.9 mph slider and 80 mph curveball. 

This — particularly given the frustration with what's been a slow offseason to this point — isn't the type of signing that gets fans excited. But having organizational pitching depth is important, and every once in a while, you sign a pitcher to a minor-league deal like this, they make an adjustment and you end up with Jeff Hoffman. Vespi obviously does not have the same type of stuff as Hoffman, but it's necessary in roster construction to turn over as many stones as possible. 

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Has the #Phillies offseason to this point been disappointing? Yes. 

Do the Phillies still have the best roster in the NL East right now? Probably.  

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— Tim Kelly (@timkellysports.bsky.social) December 18, 2024 at 1:02 PM