Phillies Sign Ex-Orioles Reliever Nick Vespi to Minor League Deal

The Philadelphia Phillies signed former Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Nick Vespi to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic.

Vespi will be 29 years old next season and joins the organization with 45 career major league appearances with Baltimore.

The left-hander tossed 12.1 innings for Baltimore in 2024, producing a 2.92 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, while striking out nine in 11 big league games.

He was designated for assignment by Baltimore and went unclaimed last season in September

Vespi will provide the Phillies additional non-roster bullpen depth going into the spring, with the potential of losing both Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez, they need to find more depth/

The Phillies added former Blue Jays closer Jordan Romero in free agency and added a pair of depth pieces earlier this week, Austin Schulfer and Guillo Zuñiga.

Looking for a name to keep an eye on in free agency?

How about another Baltimore player, Anthony Santander.

David Schoenfield of ESPN.com was making predictions for the top remaining free agents and predicted Santander would land in Philadelphia.

Prediction: Santander to the Phillies, Hernandez to the Blue Jays

The Phillies are going to do something -- as they should, with a veteran, win-now roster that fell disappointingly short in the playoffs the past two seasons. Santander deepens a lineup that, while not necessarily short on power, hit fewer home runs than the Mets and Atlanta Braves in 2024.