This former Phillies pitcher’s transaction history is unbelievable

Former Phillies pitcher Amaury Telemaco had quite the transaction history.

One of the most remembered names from the late-Veterans Stadium and early-Citizens Bank Park eras of Philadelphia Phillies baseball is former pitcher Amaury Telemaco.

Telemaco debuted at age 22 with the Chicago Cubs, tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and four walks opposite the Houston Astros on May 16, 1996.  He would go on to post a 6-11 record and 5.36 ERA across 49 appearances and 163 innings, before being selected off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks in May 1998. In Arizona, the right-hander went 7-9 with a 4.11 ERA through 32 appearances and 127 innings.

A nine-year Major League veteran, the Dominican Republic native played the final two-thirds of his career in red pinstripes. In June 1999, the Phillies selected Telemaco off waivers. This would mark their first of many transactions between the organization and pitcher. Telemaco’s Baseball-Reference page details the one dozen moves, nearly half of which is him signing as a free-agent:

• June 8, 1999: Selected off waivers by PHI from ARI
• October 8, 2001: Granted Free Agency
• December 15, 2001: Signed as a Free Agent with PHI
• October 15, 2002: Granted Free Agency
• December 23, 2002: Signed as a Free Agent with PHI
• December 21, 2004: Granted Free Agency
• December 21, 2004: Signed as a Free Agent with PHI
• March 30, 2005: Released by PHI
• April 8, 2005: Signed as a Free Agent with PHI
• June 9, 2005: Released by PHI
• June 14, 2005: Signed as a Free Agent with PHI
• July 4, 2005: Released by the Philadelphia Phillies

Twitter user Kevin Lagowski recently pointed out this lengthy list, which heavily features many moves made in 2005. Digging through various websites, Telemaco reportedly mulled retirement after spring training that year. In early June, the Phillies designated him for assignment to make room for the infamous Ugueth Urbina. It appears as though Telemaco went unclaimed and eventually re-signed a few days later, before being released again — for good — on Independence Day.

Telemaco’s son, Amaury Telemaco Jr., has not been involved in nearly as many transactions in his professional career. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him as an undrafted free agent in June 2017, but he was released in January 2019.

As a Phillie, Telemaco Sr. posted a 10-15 record, 5.08 ERA, and 1.328 WHIP across 138 games and 271 innings. He struck out 191 batters and walked an even 100. You won’t find him being invited to any of the team’s Wall of Fame inductions, but, nonetheless, his name remains engrained in the minds of many Phils fans.