PHIL BICKFORD NEWS

Inks minors deal with Cubs Bickford signed a minor-league contract with the Cubs on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Impact Bickford spent the majority of 2024 with the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, where he logged a 3.40 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over 50.1 innings. His minor-league success didn't translate well into the bigs, however, as he gave up eight earned runs in just 8.1 frames with New York. Now with the Cubs, the 29-year-old righty will likely spend most of 2025 as bullpen depth for Triple-A Iowa.

NOVEMBER 23 • ROTOWIRE

Clears waivers The Yankees outrighted Bickford to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday.

Impact Bickford will stick around in the New York organization after clearing waivers. The right-hander has given up eight earned runs on 10 hits and one walk over 8.1 innings in eight appearances out of the big-league bullpen.

SEPTEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Clarke Schmidt and Ian Hamilton are activated by the Yankees, who cut Phil Bickford and Nick Burdi

Right-handers Clarke Schmidt and Ian Hamilton have been activated from the 60-day injured list by the New York Yankees after recovering from right lat strains, and Schmidt was sche...

SEPTEMBER 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pushed off 40-man The Yankees designated Bickford for assignment Saturday.

Impact With Clarke Schmidt (lat) and Ian Hamilton (lat) both returning from the 60-day IL, Bickford and Nick Burdi will both lose their spots on the Yankees' 40-man roster. Bickford appeared in three games for the Yankees after being selected to the active roster Aug. 25, striking out two batters across 3.1 scoreless innings, although he still owns an 8.64 ERA in the big leagues this season.

SEPTEMBER 7 • ROTOWIRE

Yankees designate pitcher Tonkin for assignment, four months after claiming him from Mets

The New York Yankees shuffled their bullpen Sunday, designating Michael Tonkin for assignment and calling up Phil Bickford from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre

AUGUST 25 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Selected from Triple-A The Yankees selected Bickford's contract from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.

Impact He'll join the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster as a replacement in the bullpen for right-hander Michael Tonkin, who was designated for assignment. Bickford had previously made five relief appearances for New York earlier this season and was hit hard over five innings, yielding eight earned runs on eight hits and one walk.

AUGUST 25 • ROTOWIRE

Back with Yankees Bickford re-signed Thursday with the Yankees on a minor-league contract.

Impact After losing his spot on the Yankees' 40-man roster and clearing waivers earlier this month, Bickford elected free agency, only to re-sign with the Yankees on a minor-league deal one day later. He reported to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and will continue to work in relief with the Yankees' top affiliate.

JULY 10 • ROTOWIRE

Elects free agency The Yankees released Bickford on Wednesday.

Impact Bickford cleared waivers after being removed from the 40-man roster but has elected free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment. The veteran reliever should be scooped up by some team, but he might have to go to the minors first.

JULY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Yankees cut González, demote Marinaccio, bring up Bickford and Gómez in bullpen revamp

The New York Yankees revamped their bullpen after losing consecutive series to AL East rivals Boston and Baltimore, bringing up right-handers Phil Bickford and Yoendrys Gómez, cutt...

JUNE 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Inks MiLB deal Bickford signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Tuesday, Conor Foley of YES Network reports.

Impact The right-hander was let go by the Mets just ahead of Opening Day but will stick around the tri-state area as he reports to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Bickford made 61 appearances between the Dodgers and Mets last season and had a 4.95 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 76:39 K:BB over 67.1 innings.

APRIL 2 • ROTOWIRE

Mets pitcher wins arbitration dispute, and reward is termination pay Phil Bickford is the second major league player cut loose this month after winning in salary arbitration.

MARCH 26 • PENNLIVE.COM

Designated for assignment The Mets designated Bickford for assignment Saturday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Impact Bickford will lose his spot on the Mets' 40-man roster in order to make space for J.D. Martinez, who officially signed with the team on Saturday. Bickford gave up three earned runs over 4.2 innings during spring training and turned in a 4.95 ERA through 67.1 frames last season. He could receive attention on the waiver wire, but the 28-year-old reliever would almost certainly be limited to low-leverage work.

MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE

Players sweep 5 arbitration decisions as Hays, Webb, Ward, Dubón and Bickford all win

Players swept five salary arbitration decisions against major league teams on Tuesday when Baltimore outfielder Austin Hays and pitcher Jacob Webb won their cases along with Los An...

FEBRUARY 6 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros utilityman Mauricio Dubón and Mets reliever Phil Bickford go to salary arbitration

Houston utilityman Mauricio Dubón and New York Mets right-hander Phil Bickford have gone to salary arbitration hearings

FEBRUARY 5 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nabs first win as Met Bickford (3-4) gave up a hit and struck out three over 1.1 scoreless relief innings Monday to pick up the win against Atlanta.

Impact Starter David Peterson failed to last five innings, and Bickford took over from the southpaw with the Mets already ahead 7-4 to get credit for the win. It's his first win in 10 appearances since joining New York at the beginning of August, but his 8.38 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB through 9.2 innings for his new team will keep him in a low-leverage role.

AUGUST 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bags first save Bickford earned a save against the Cubs on Wednesday, issuing one walk and striking out two batters over a scoreless inning.

Impact Adam Ottavino got the call from the bullpen with the Mets up 4-2 heading into the ninth inning, but he allowed a solo home run followed by a single and a walk before being pulled without retiring any batters. Bickford came to the rescue, striking out a pair and preventing the tying run from crossing the plate. As a result, he earned the second save of his career and first since joining New York in a deadline deal. The Mets' closer role is unsettled with David Robertson recently being dealt to Miami, so it's not out of the question that Bickford could get additional ninth-inning opportunities down the line.

AUGUST 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dealt over to Mets The Mets acquired Bickford and Adam Kolarek from the Dodgers on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Impact Bickford was designated for assignment by Los Angeles on Saturday. The 28-year-old right-hander carries a 5.14 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 48:26 K:BB through 42 innings of relief this season at the major-league level.

AUGUST 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers News: Joe Kelly Officially Activated, Phil Bickford DFA'd Some roster movement before Saturday night’s game against the Reds.

JULY 29, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Designated for assignment The Dodgers designated Bickford for assignment on Saturday.

Impact The 28-year-old will lose his place on Los Angeles' 26-man and 40-man rosters in order to clear space for trade-acquisition Joe Kelly. Bickford had a 2.81 ERA during the 2021 campaign but has struggled over the past two seasons with a 4.89 ERA in 96 appearances. However, he's given up just two earned runs in his past 13 outings and could generate some interest on the waiver wire.

JULY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nabs win in return Bickford (2-2) earned the win over Houston on Saturday, striking out four batters over two perfect innings.

Impact Bickford was impressive in his return from a back injury, striking out two Astros in each of his two frames and retiring all six batters he faced. The right-hander had been struggling mightily prior to going on the injured list June 3, allowing 12 runs over his prior 7.1 innings. The Dodgers bullpen has been among the worst in the NL this season, so Bickford could get a chance to work up to a high-leverage role if he shows the ability to consistently pitch well.

JUNE 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers News: Alex Vesia Draws Short Straw as Phil Bickford Activated from IL A bit of roster movement for the Astros series.

JUNE 24, 2023 • SACBEE.COM

Dodgers activate Phil Bickford (back) from injured list The Los Angeles Dodgers adjusted their bullpen Friday, activating right-hander Phil Bickford off the injured list, while left-hander Alex Ve...

JUNE 24, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Dodgers activate Phil Bickford (back) from injured list The Los Angeles Dodgers adjusted their bullpen Friday, activating right-hander Phil Bickford off the injured list, while left-hander Alex Ve...

JUNE 24, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM

Activated off injured list Bickford (back) was activated off the 15-day injured list by the Dodgers on Friday, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Impact Bickford missed three weeks while dealing with tightness in his lower back. He'll return to a middle-innings role with the Dodgers with Alex Vesia heading back to Triple-A Oklahoma City in the corresponding transaction.

JUNE 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on injured list The Dodgers placed Bickford on the 15-day injured list Saturday with lower back tightness.

Impact Bickford had a strong start to the season but has since fallen off, allowing 16 earned runs through 12 innings across his last 10 appearances. He'll head to the IL to ensure he's at 100 percent his next time out, while Tayler Scott will come up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take Bickford's spot in the bullpen.

JUNE 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE