Phillies sign RHP Michael Ynoa to minor-league deal

The Phillies have inked veteran RHP Michael Ynoa to a minor-league deal.

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed right-handed reliever Michael Ynoa to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury.

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The Oakland Athletics first signed Ynoa back early July 2008, when the 6-foot-7 Dominican Republic native was just 16 years old. His $4.25 million signing bonus was the most ever at the time for a non-Cuban amateur player, as he was one of the most highly touted international amateurs of the early 2000s.

Ynoa, 29, made his professional debut in 2010; he pitched in the A’s organization through the 2014 season, when that December he was dealt with Jeff Samardzija to the Chicago White Sox.

Ynoa later made his big-league debut in 2016. Across 45 appearances and 17 games finished between that and the following season, the right-hander went 2-0 with a 4.42 ERA, 53-39 strikeouts-to-walks ratio, and 1.475 WHIP.

The White Sox released Ynoa prior to the 2018 season, and he would not pitch for a MLB affiliate again until 2019 at Triple-A with the Kansas City Royals. The A’s re-signed Ynoa in January 2020, however the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from taking the mound in live game action. Most recently, Ynoa has signed pitching in the Dominican Winter League last and this offseason. During the 2020-21 season, specifically, he went 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 0.947 WHIP across 13 appearances and 12 2/3 innings. He also struck out 18 batters while walking just four.

The Phils will take their chances with Ynoa on a low-risk, potentially high-reward deal. They have made a similar deal this offseason with fellow right-hander Neftali Feliz, as well as with catcher Christian Bethancourt and infielder Ronald Torreyes.