Major League Baseball

Phillies Add Sidearm Pitcher, Lose Two Players to Waivers

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:32 a.m. ET

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Fansided, John Town/FanSided via That Balls Outta Here

The Phillies have made a few minor transactions in the last week or so on the heels of bigger moves by the team as they gear up for 2017.

The Phillies made some waves in December after signing Joaquin Benoit, extending Odubel Herrera, and trading for Clay Buchholz. To make room for these players, others had to go.

Corner infielder Richie Shaffer was claimed off waivers by the Reds from Philadelphia. The Phils claimed Shaffer from the Mariners December 14 but then designated him for assignment last Tuesday when the team acquired Buchholz. The Reds are his fourth team in 2016 after being traded from the Rays to Seattle, being claimed off waivers by Philadelphia, then being claimed again by Cincinnati.

Shaffer’s time in Philadelphia was short-lived, but I thought there was a chance he could make the roster as a corner infielder/outfielder with some power from the right side of the plate. Evidently, I was wrong and now the former first-round pick will try to fill that same role with the Reds.

David Rollins was also claimed off waivers with the Rangers picking up the lefty once again Wednesday.

He wasn’t in Texas long before the Cubs picked him up off waivers Friday. Rollins has now switched teams five times since the 2016 season ended. Rollins was designated for assignment after the Phils re-signed Andres Blanco and claimed Shaffer off waivers earlier in December.

When Rollins was claimed by Philadelphia, the move brought into question the club’s attitude towards PED usage. Rollins was popped for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol prior to the 2015 season. Questions on that leniency will have less ground to stand on now that Rollins is out of the organization.

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Finally, the Phils made an addition to bolster their minor-league pitching by signing left-handed pitcher Wander Perez according to the Joplin Globe. Perez spent 2016 pitching for the Joplin Blasters of the independent American Association. He pitched in ten games for the Blasters, posting a 4.88 ERA and 1.229 WHIP as he went 3-4.

The 31-year old Perez spent his early years as a part of the White Sox organization, signing as international free agent with Chicago back in 2002.

Perez last pitched in affiliated baseball back in 2009 when he allowed 4.3 walks per nine innings and struck out 7.2 batters per nine in 33 games for the High-A Winston-Salem Dash.

Here is a video of Perez during a bullpen session back in 2011.

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