Phillies re-sign – Philadelphia brought Jackson Rutledge back just over a week after releasing him following a designation for assignment that was tied to freeing a roster spot for Derek Hill. After clearing waivers, the 27-year-old right-hander is now expected to report to Trip
The Phillies moved quickly after the roster decision that sent Jackson Rutledge into the open market last week.
Philadelphia re-signed the 27-year-old right-hander to a minor league contract on Tuesday. a little more than a week after the club released him in a procedural roster move. Rutledge’s release came after he was designated for assignment to clear a spot for Derek Hill. He was then released because players who suffer injuries in the minors cannot be placed on outright waivers. After spending a week available to other teams and going unclaimed. Rutledge returned to Philadelphia on a non-roster deal and is expected to report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The path that brought him back starts in mid-May, when the Phillies originally claimed Rutledge off waivers from the Washington Nationals. They immediately optioned him to Triple-A. He made five innings for Lehigh Valley before sustaining an injury, allowing four earned runs during that stretch.
Rutledge’s most recent major league action with Washington this season came on April 13. In one appearance, he surrendered seven runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
A 6-foot-8 right-hander who was a first-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. Rutledge transitioned to a full-time bullpen role last season after brief major league appearances in 2023 and 2024. Across parts of four MLB seasons, he owns a 6.29 ERA over 103 innings with a 5.38 FIP and a -0.6 pWAR. He has also allowed 21 home runs while issuing 34 walks.
Rutledge spent all four of his previous major league seasons with the Nationals before being claimed by Philadelphia. Last season with Washington, he posted a 5.77 ERA over 73 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. At the Triple-A level, he has struggled as well, recording a 5.60 ERA across parts of four seasons.
Now the Phillies’ focus is straightforward: whether the former first-round pick can rediscover his form in the minors and work his way back to the major league roster after the stop-and-start that came from the DFA-and-release mechanics.
Philadelphia Phillies Jackson Rutledge Derek Hill DFA minor league contract Lehigh Valley Nationals waiver claim Triple-A