Phillies release 2 veterans after conclusion of transaction freeze

It wasn’t a long-term extension, but the Philadelphia Phillies did make two transactions Sunday morning.

According to Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies have released veteran righty Drew Storen and outfielder Matt Szczur.

Storen, 32, has 99 career saves, including 29 for the Washington Nationals in 2015. That said, he hasn’t pitched at the major league level since 2017, so he faced an uphill battle to being a part of the 2020 Phillies.

Szczur, like Storen, was a long-shot to make the team’s opening day roster. The 30-year-old Villanova graduate has hit .231 in 589 career major league at-bats.

As baseball attempts to adapt in the COVID-19 climate, MLB teams will be permitted to carry a 40-man roster with a 20-man taxi squad this season. The Phillies currently have 41 players on their 40-man roster, and another 28 in non-roster invitees still remaining. By 4 p.m. ET today, they have to select the 60 players that they want to be eligible to play in the 60-game regular season that will begin in late July, meaning more roster decisions are likely to trickle out today.

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