Vince Velasquez
Vince Velasquez spent five and a half seasons wearing red pinstripes, pitching for the Phillies from 2016 until being released partway through the 2021 campaign. After coming to Philadelphia from the Houston Astros as part of the Ken Giles trade, the right-hander put up his best season as a Phillie in 2016.
He went 8-6 in 24 starts, recording a 4.12 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and 152 strikeouts over 131 innings. Unfortunately, that was about as good as it got in Philly for the former second-round draft pick. He appeared in 133 games (making 116 starts) and left town with a 4.93 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 582 2/3 innings.
Velasquez spent 2023 with the Pittsburgh Pirates but only pitched 37 1/3 innings before going down with elbow soreness and eventually had the second UCL surgery of his career. Before the injury, the 31-year-old was putting together the best season of his career with a 3.86 ERA and 3.87 FIP. He'll be out until sometime later in 2024, so he might have a hard time finding a job this season.
Chase Anderson
Chase Anderson didn't even spend a full season with the Phillies. After signing as a free agent in February 2021, Anderson lasted until Aug. 27, when the team released him following a forgettable 14 games (with nine starts). Well, maybe not forgettable, but you wouldn't remember them for anything good.
Maybe it's the April 25 game in Colorado when he was lit up for six runs in 3 2/3 innings, or perhaps the May 16 seven-run blitzing at the hands of the Toronto Blue Jays (which happened in just 1 1/3 innings). Either way, the now 36-year-old finished his almost five-month stint in Philadelphia with a 6.75 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 10 home runs allowed in 48 innings.
Anderson started 2023 with the Tampa Bay Rays but was picked off waivers by the Rockies. Pitching in the thin Colorado air didn't help the right-hander. He finished his 17 starts with a 1-6 record, a 5.75 ERA, and 17 home runs allowed in 81 1/3 innings before becoming a free agent at season's end.