As the Major League Baseball offseason heads into the holidays, teams aren't hitting vacation mode just yet. The Philadelphia Phillies got in on the action on Thursday night, signing veteran outfielder Max Kepler. It also appears that two former Phillies players have found new homes for the 2025 season.
Fan favorite first baseman/designated hitter Darick Hall and stellar defensive outfielder Cristian Pache both reportedly agreed to minor league deals on Thursday.
Former Phillies Darick Hall and Cristian Pache find new homes ahead of the holidays
Hall agreed to a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates with an invitation to big league spring training, as reported by Steve Potter of PhilliesBaseballFan.com. Pache signed a minor league deal with an invite to spring training with the Arizona Diamondbacks, per MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.
Hall, 29, made his MLB debut with the Phillies in 2022 after working his way up the ranks from being a 14th-round pick. Known for his slugging, he made a good impression, hitting .250 with an .804 OPS, nine home runs and 16 RBI in 42 games. Unfortunately, after putting together a strong spring training audition, his 2023 season was derailed by a sprained thumb in early April.
After hitting .236 with a .706 OPS and 16 homers in 114 games in Triple-A Lehigh Valley this past season, he headed to free agency. At least the IronPigs' all-time home run leader finished his Phillies career in style and went out with a bang.
LONG BALL HALL calls curtains. pic.twitter.com/mmRB4Ocg9J
— Lehigh Valley IronPigs (@IronPigs) September 22, 2024
Pache, 26, spent parts of two seasons with the Phillies as a reserve player. Known for his storing defensive play in the outfield, he has never been able to live up to the top prospect pedigree from his days with the Atlanta Braves. In 98 games (213 plate appearances) in Philadelphia, Pache hit .218 with a .637 OPS and a 32.9 strikeout rate.
He has racked up the frequent flyer miles since the Phillies traded him, along with reliever Seranthony Domínguez, to the Baltimore Orioles for Austin Hays at the deadline this past season. Just days after landing in Baltimore, the light-hitting Pache was designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins before finishing the season in the minors.