This offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies have focused on forming an elite roster from top to bottom to be legitimate contenders for the World Series in 2024. In doing so, they have let some of their players from 2023 leave the team since it was impossible to keep everyone.
For some of the players who didn’t have much relevance, like minor league pitchers Michael Plassmeyer and Erich Uelman, their departures from the organization in free agency were probably not even realized by the average fan, given the pitchers' limited exposure and contributions to the ballclub.
After all, Plassmeyer appeared in just one game for the Phillies in 2023, but it was certainly a forgettable one at the end of the season when he gave up eight hits and nine earned runs in just 3 2/3 innings. Similarly for Uelman, he made one appearance for the major league team in May, giving up three hits and four earned runs in just a single inning of work. Perhaps those outings left a lasting impression on the Phillies, making their decisions on their future quite simple.
But what about those high-caliber MLB players who suited up for the Phillies in 2023? By being on their 26-man roster for a significant amount of time last season, they must have played somewhat of a role in helping the team accomplish what they did in the end. In these cases, which players who have left the team shouldn’t cause too much worry and which ones could potentially come back to haunt the Phillies in 2024?
Here, we'll look at two former Phillies that we’ll be glad are gone, along with two other former players who will make Philadelphia regret letting them go.