When spring training opens in two and a half months, the Phillies will bring a group of pitchers to Clearwater as non-roster invitees. Jose Ruiz, a right-handed reliever, will be among them; he has agreed to a minor-league contract, per MLB Trade Rumors.
Ruiz, a 29-year-old Venezuelan, has spent the last seven seasons pitching in the major leagues. In his 212 career games, he has played for the White Sox 177 times. He pitched for the Diamondbacks for the majority of 2023, compiling a 4.43 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 40⅔ innings.
Ruiz spent the last 15 innings of the season with Reno, Arizona’s Triple A affiliate, giving up just two runs while striking out 20 batters.
In 2024, the majority of the Phillies’ eight-man bullpen—Jose Alvarado, Matt Strahm, Gregory Soto, Jeff Hoffman, and Orion Kerkering—will be back. Dylan Covey, who was still a long reliever they occasionally used after May 20, was tendered a contract by them.
To replace free agent Craig Kimbrel, they will probably add a late-inning reliever, but they may hold off to see how the market shapes up. For instance, Kimbrel didn’t sign during the previous offseason until January 4.
Ruiz, Andrew Bellatti, Luis Ortiz, Yunior Marte, McKinley Moore, Connor Brogdon, Michael Mercado, and any other relievers the Phillies sign to minor-league contracts between now and mid-February are among the relievers who are expected to contend for spots in spring training. Ruiz is the only pitcher in that group without a minor-league option left, so the Phillies would have to pass him through waivers rather than sending him back and forth to the minors at will.