News of Phormer Phillies

[Philsmania]

I always get confused by the other Luis Garcia. There's an IF too right?

Yes, there were three Luis Garcias playing in MLB last year, the Nats 2B, the Astros starting pitcher, and our old friend. There have been two other Luis Garcias in MLB, both utility infielders who had cups of coffee some 25 years ago.

Of course, Garcia is the most common Spanish surname. I'm fascinated by less common names shared my multiple unrelated players. There have been two Ryan Brauns, two Bill Buckners, and, to stick to the topic of this thread, two Tim Corcorans.

And, two Adam Eatons, one of whom played for us (no comment) and the two Adam Eatons came within three seasons of both being in MLB at the same time. Both Ryan Brauns played in MLB in 2007. And, to nitpick, according to B-R, the second Buckner went by "Billy". Also per B-R, there was a William Buckner who played in the minors in the 1920's.

[BostonRoss]

Two Steve Ontiveros's, too (still fits in this thread), but no other Ontiveros's.

[Philsmania]

Two Steve Ontiveros's, too (still fits in this thread), but no other Ontiveros's.

Now, that is remarkable. The pitcher Ontiveros pitched for the Phillies in parts of two seasons. When healthy, he could be a really good pitcher. Unfortunately, that was not often. But still, that Steve Ontiveros managed to crack the big leagues in 2000 after a five-year gap (his ML career occurred in parts of ten seasons spread out over sixteen years from 1985-2000). And, the two Steve Ontiveroses came within five years of being in MLB at the same time. Unlike the case with the Adam Eatons, the Phillies might have had the better Steve Ontiveros.

[zambonir]

Orioles Claim Weston Wilson, DFA Jose Suarez

[Philsmania]

I missed the memo that he was DFA'd. C'est la vie, I guess.

[zambonir]

To make room for JT. No options, he was unlikely to stick over Kemp, and I guess every pitcher is more valuable. But they're still holding a spot with Nick, and they'll have to get Stubbs through waivers eventually too.

I thought they might get something for him but it probably would have just been money or a non-prospect.

[andyb]

Seranthony does pretty well with the White Sox needing to spend some money. Not sure how many games he'll actually close of course.

Seranthony Domínguez agrees to two-year, $20 million deal with White Sox

[Philsmania]

Seranthony does pretty well with the White Sox needing to spend some money. Not sure how many games he'll actually close of course.

Seranthony Domínguez agrees to two-year, $20 million deal with White Sox

If he does well, he'll be a nice deadline chip with that additional year of control.

[schillingfan]

I can’t believe Seranthony is 31. He is one of the few relief pitchers actually liked. I also somehow knew that his arm was going to give out from overuse in August and September.

[zambonir]

This is kind of awkward and unfortunate. It's nice that he only wants to play for his hometown team but he was 0.1 WAR and 95 OPS+ last year while only playing seven games in the field. Apparently he thinks he should be given more chances in the OF, and I bet several teams would give him a bench job if he could. Just not a primary DH job.

But they probably should have invited him to fanfest even without a contarct

Pirates Open To Re-Signing Andrew McCutchen

I wonder, did the Cards do this Wainwright/Pujols/Yadi? Dodgers to Kershaw?Tigers to Miggy? The list goes on and on. If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player. Talk to them about my appreciation for them over the years. Shake that… https://t.co/oB8Nq1bjng

— Andrew McCutchen ( @TheCUTCH22 ) January 25, 2026

[julio]

Notwithstanding whatever criticisms we may have, now or in the past, with the Phillies... They would find a way to keep an iconic personality like Cutch "in the family," some way. Yeah, he's about done as a player, but he's probably the best ambassador, possibly the best all-around person, who has worn the Pirates uniform since Clemente - and he wants to be in Pittsburgh. Probably even today, with god only knows how much snow on the ground! Sensible management doesn't squander that.

Yeah, they should have invited him to fanfest.

[zambonir]

They may yet sign him, which would make it extra-dumb. But they are probably not wrong to play hardball with him about salary and role. He would also not be wrong to go sign with another team before coming back to retire as a Pirate, except they know he doesn't want to. The team is also not wrong to be unsure about signing a player who would be awkward to release, or untradeable (if one assumes he'd retire rather than uproot himself for a few months).

Hmmh, he had a higher WAR and OPS+ last year than our current RHB LF, and is probably no better or worse defensively (old declining once-elite OF still better than a kid who really shouldn't be playing there in the first place).

[bkox]

Mets sign Kimbrel to a minor league deal with ST invite

[allentown]

Notwithstanding whatever criticisms we may have, now or in the past, with the Phillies... They would find a way to keep an iconic personality like Cutch "in the family,"

I don't know who the iconic kept personalities you are talking about the Phillies always finding a way to keep. Not major star personalities such as Schilling or Abreu. Not Ashburn, who was brought back as an announcer, but was lost to the Mets in expansion draft. Not Bob Boone, who had some very productive years after Phillies didn't re-sign him. Not dave Cash. Not Cookie Rojas or Tony Taylor (although Taylor returned) or Larry Bowa (returned in field-management position). Not Manny Trillo.

[zambonir]

But conversely: Thome, Vuke, Bowa, Schmidt, Greg Gross, Rollins, Sandberg, Morandini, many others who came back as coaches or advisors or spring training guests I don't think Julio is suggesting the Pirates have to re-sign Cutch, and they've already kept him in the family for quite a few years already. But Monty or Giles wouldn't have let the baseball decision keep him from signing some autographs at a fan event if he wanted to be there. And they'd probably would have just told him they didn't want him back. I mean, this Phillies front office is currently on better terms/has better communication with Nick Castellanos than the Pirates do with their most popular modern player.

[allentown]

And Cutch could also remain in the Pirates family in future seasons, even if not re-signed for this season and playing elsewhere. That is how the guys you mentioned subsequently remained in the Phillies family. Bowa was essentially ridden out of town on a rail for demanding a salary increase -- ownership was so determined to have him gone that we lost Sandberg in that bad trade. I started following Phillies in the 50s and none of my favorites retired as Phillies (Ashburn, Roberts, Simmons who was the pride of Lehigh Valley, Konstanty, Ennis (Ennis came close and really hung on until after his WAR was negative, playing only about a year outside Philly in a career that should have been over

[Philsmania]

Blue Jays sign Connor Seabold to a minor league contract.

Blue Jays Sign Connor Seabold To Minor League Deal

[BostonRoss]

Cutch is one of the all-time iconic Pirates over the last 75 years, maybe only behind Clemente and Stargell. The only Phillies I would put in that class are Schmidt, Roberts, Carlton, Ashburn, Allen, and maybe Rollins and Utley. Schmidt never left. Roberts had a terrible 1961 season, was sold to the Yankees, who released him before he pitched for them. But the Phils retired his number during 1962 spring training. He revived his career for a few years but ended his pitching career with the Reading Phillies. He also was briefly a Phillies broadcaster. Ashburn was traded for a younger player (John Buzhardt) and played three more seasons. The Phillies immediately brought him back as a broadcaster. Allen of course was also brought back. The one who wasn't was Lefty, who couldn't pitch any more despite four teams in two years giving him a shot. I'm not sure what kind of role he could have been brought back in.