While the top of the major-league free-agent market has largely been settled, there are still a great deal of players left to find homes for the 2023 at the start of the new year.
A number of these players out there have connections to Philadelphia, having played in the city prior to the Phillies’ turnaround and unexpected World Series run in 2022. Here is a list of the 10 former Phillies who played for the team before this past season and remain unsigned as major-league free agents:
Jorge Alfaro
Once one of the prized prospects heading to the Phillies in the 2015 Cole Hamels blockbuster, Alfaro was part of another star trade package in 2019 as he went to Miami in exchange for J.T. Realmuto. The 29-year-old served as the Padres backup catcher in 2022 before being non-tendered by the club.
José Álvarez
Acquired in a trade with the Angels before the 2019 season, Álvarez had a solid first year in Philadelphia before a line drive to the groin ended his 2020 campaign early, leaving a disastrous Phillies bullpen without one of its only reliable pieces. The left-hander then moved on to the Giants for two seasons as he posted a stellar 2.37 ERA in 2021 before struggling in 21 appearances this past year.
Archie Bradley
Bradley pitched to a 3.71 ERA in 53 relief outings in 2021, his lone season in red pinstripes. He then signed with the Angels on another one-year deal, but missed significant time after breaking his arm in a bench-clearing brawl in June. The 30-year-old had a 4.82 ERA in 21 appearances in 2022.
Corey Dickerson
Dickerson brought a jolt to the Phillies after the trade deadline in 2019, but couldn’t stay healthy enough to play more than 34 games with the team. The outfielder played for the Cardinals in 2022, playing in 96 games with a .698 OPS.
Phil Gosselin
The Malvern Prep grad Gosselin played for his hometown team in parts of 2019 and 2020, serving as Philadelphia’s designated hitter at times against lefties in that second season. The 34-year-old utility player played 34 big-league games with the Braves and Angels in 2022.
César Hernández
A Phillie from 2013-2019, Hernández was a staple at the top of the team’s order for much of its rebuilding period as a solid second baseman with on-base ability. However, the veteran has struggled the last two seasons with Cleveland, the White Sox and the Nationals with a combined .662 OPS in 296 games.
Ian Kennedy
The Phillies traded for Ian Kennedy ahead of the 2021 trade deadline to serve as their closer, and — after a tremendous start to that season in Texas — the results were shaky. He had a 4.13 ERA in 21 outings for the team. The 38-year-old is now coming off a season with the Diamondbacks in which he had a 5.36 ERA in 57 games.
Andrew McCutchen
Signing a three-year deal before the 2019 season to be the Phillies’ leadoff hitter, McCutchen got off to a great start to his first year before an ACL tear derailed his tenure with the team. The former MVP outfielder had an .834 OPS in 59 games in 2019, but only a combined .772 OPS the next two years with limited defensive mobility. McCutchen had a .700 OPS with the Brewers in 2022.
Matt Moore
Following a lackluster 2021 season with the Phillies as a starter, Moore transformed into one of the premier left-handed relievers in the majors with the Rangers this past season. The 33-year-old had a 1.95 ERA over 74 innings in 63 games.
Luke Williams
Williams, a utility player who hit a walk-off home run in his first career start with the Phillies in 2021, spent this past year with the Marlins and Angels. He was non-tendered by Los Angeles in November.