Phillies News: Pitcher re-signed after Guardians release, roster moves, trade buzz

The Philadelphia Phillies made several roster moves following their 12-4 loss to the Marlins, the lone blemish on an otherwise dominant series victory over their division rival.

Rookie right-hander Andrew Painter was optioned to Lehigh Valley on Wednesday after allowing six earned runs across two innings just hours earlier. His first stint with the Major League club was brutal. Painter pitched to an ERA over 7.00 and the Phillies finished 3-11 in his 14 appearances.

"I think it was the best thing for [Painter]," Mattingly said before Thursday's game, "It's hard to keep working and keep getting better when you're trying to perform at the big-league level." In Triple-A, the 23-year-old can focus on making improvements without the added pressure. In the meantime, Philadelphia finds itself without a fifth starter.

There's hope that free-agent acquisition Bryse Wilson could temporarily fill the void left by Painter, but the Phillies quietly signed another pitcher to a minor-league contract, reuniting with Kolby Allard.

Selected in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, Allard never lived up to his prospect pedigree. The soft-throwing southpaw has split time between the starting rotation and bullpen throughout his nine-year career. In 2024, Allard agreed to a minor-league deal with the Phillies and posted a 5.00 ERA in seven appearances (four starts) for the big-league club.

This past season with the Guardians was his best. Allard pitched primarily out of the bullpen, where he carried a 2.63 ERA across 65 innings of work. The success didn't translate early in 2026, leading to his demotion to Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate and eventual release. Allard posted a 2.49 ERA in his five starts with Columbus this season, enough for the shorthanded Phillies to bring him back.

Phillies send down once-reliable bullpen arm amid struggles

It's unusual for a contending team to parts ways with one of the game's most valuable relievers. When the Phillies traded Matt Strahm to the Kansas City Royals, he had produced the sixth most fWAR (4.5) among relievers since 2023. Philadelphia's bullpen included left-handers Jose Alvarado and Tanner Banks, both of whom were expected to command higher-leverage roles moving forward.

At approximately the halfway point, Phillies left-handed relievers have the fourth-highest ERA in MLB. Wednesday's blowout was the final straw for a key contributor in 2025: Tanner Banks was optioned to Lehigh Valley on Thursday.

Banks was drafted in 2014, but didn't make his Major League debut until 2022. The Phillies acquired the 34-year-old southpaw from the South Side of Chicago in July 2024. Last season, Banks surprised with a 3.07 ERA over 67 1/3 innings pitched. Philadelphia was so impressed that some thought he could replace Strahm's production at a much cheaper price.

Instead, Banks has pitched himself out of the Phillies' bullpen entirely. His last appearance before the transaction saw him surrender four runs (three unearned) to the Marlins, squashing any hopes of a comeback. Though his 5.86 ERA was not the worst on the team, his one remaining MiLB option made him the logical choice to be sent down.

Jon Morosi discusses Phillies' deadline plans and names a potential trade partner

The Aug. 3 trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and rumors are beginning to circulate regarding who could get moved. Dave Dombrowksi's league-wide reputation as a tireless executive ensures his name is always at the forefront of discussions.

While on the topic of the Phillies' starting rotation, Jon Morosi had this to say on MLB Network: "It does seem to me that [starting pitching] will be a spot they look for [at the deadline]." Morosi later mentioned the Detroit Tigers as a potential trade partner, given Dombrowski's history with the organization.

Since joining the Phillies in 2020, Dombrowski has completed several trades with the Tigers. If the Phillies are shopping for rental pitchers at August's deadline, Detroit has plenty to offer. Who could be his next target? According to Morosi, Casey Mize is a name to watch.

The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft has finally begun to perform up to his potential. Tommy John surgery kept Mize off the mound for nearly two full seasons. This past season, the right-hander earned his first All-Star nod after posting a 2.63 ERA through his first 15 starts. Mize couldn't withstand the same level of success after the break, but he's come out to a strong start once again in 2026.

Despite two separate stints on the injured list, Mize owns a career-best 2.58 ERA in 10 starts. If the Tigers continue to trend downward, holding onto impending free agents Tarik Skubal and Mize would become pointless. Adding Mize to a rotation headlined by Cristopher Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, and Jesus Luzardo would be unfair to National League hitters.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow