Phillies sign former promising Twins reliever to minor-league contract

The World Series is still ongoing, but the Philadelphia Phillies aren't waiting around to get their offseason moves started. While major league free agency and trading have yet to commence, the Phillies did make their first minor league roster move on Wednesday, signing right-hander Cody Stashak to a minor league contract for the 2025 season, as first reported by Ted Schwerzler.

Stashak, 30, has major league experience, appearing in 55 games for the Minnesota Twins between 2019 and 2022. Picked in the 13th round of the 2015 Draft by Minnesota, Stashak debuted with two scoreless innings out of the Twins bullpen as a 25-year-old in July 2019. He has a 4-1 record, a 4.13 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 83 strikeouts in 72 career MLB innings as a reliever.

Phillies sign Cody Stashak to minor-league deal, hopeful he can harness his intriguing skillset

The Phillies are starting their search for organizational pitching depth early this offseason. The team will extend Stashak an invitation to spring training to show what he has, according to The Athletic's Matt Gelb.

Known for his exceptional command of the strike zone, Stashak struck out 25 batters in 25 innings while walking just one in his debut season. He has a career 4.7 percent walk rate and didn't issue a free pass in his 16 1/3 MLB innings in 2022. Unfortunately, his season was cut short thanks to a torn labrum in his right shoulder, which required surgery.

The South Jersey native signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants in August 2023 and spent 2024 pitching for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. Stashak posted a 5.45 ERA over 36 1/3 innings with 44 strikeouts in the notoriously hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. The Giants released him on Aug. 13.

He has reportedly added a cutter to his arsenal, per Schwerzler, and flashed some big strikeout stuff in the minors this season. He posted a 27.2 percent strikeout rate in Triple-A, getting back to just below his 27.6 percent big league career mark.

According to his Baseball Savant page, Stashak featured a three-pitch mix the last time he was in the majors in 2022. He leaned heavily on a 90.6 mph four-seam fastball and an 82 mph slider while throwing a handful of changeups.

After a wildly successful reclamation project with reliever Jeff Hoffman, who's heading to free agency, the Phillies will be looking to capture lightning in a bottle again with Stashak in 2025.

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