While the trade deadline is still over two months away, the Philadelphia Phillies continue making minor deals to add to the organziation's depth on the mound. According to reports, the Phillies swung a trade with the Kansas City Royals on Memorial Day Monday.
With the team out on the West Coast, gearing up for a three-game series in San Francisco, the front office was busy adding to their minor league bullpen arsenal.
Phillies make a trade with Royals for another bullpen arm
The team hasn't announced anything official, but per the team's transactions page and The Philadelphia Inquirer's Scott Lauber, the Phillies acquired right-handed relief pitcher Jonah Dipoto from the Royals for cash considerations. If the name rings a vague bell, it's because Jonah is the son of Seattle Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto.
The #Phillies have acquired righty reliever Jonah Dipoto from the Royals for cash considerations. Dipoto, 27, son of Mariners' president of baseball ops Jerry Dipoto, will report to triple-A Lehigh Valley. He has a 4.28 ERA in 46 appearances over the last two years in triple A.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) May 27, 2024
The 27-year-old Dipoto will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and take a spot in the IronPigs' bullpen. In 46 appearances with the Royals' Triple-A affiliate Omaha Storm Chasers over the last two years he has a 4.28 ERA. This season, in 14 1/3 innings the former 2019 35th-round draft pick has a 4.40 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with a 19.7 percent strikeout rate but a 12.1 percent walk rate.
Dipoto features a four-pitch mix with a 92 mph sinker, an 86 mph changeup, an 81 mph slider and a rarely used mid-80s cutter. In his last outing for the Storm Chasers, he registered nine called and swinging strikes on his 26 pitches.
This isn't the first trade president of baseball operations Dave Dombroski and general manager Sam Fuld have swung this season. Earlier this month, they acquired left-hander Tyler Gilbert from the Cincinnati Reds for cash.
You might also recall that the Phillies parted ways with reliever Connor Brogdon after a disastrous outing in early April. They acquired left-handed strikeout artist Benony Robles from the Los Angeles Dodgers in that deal.