The Phillies have agreed to a minor-league deal with right-handed reliever José Ruiz, according to a report from MLB Trade Rumors.
Ruiz made 38 appearances for the Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023, pitching to a 5.89 ERA in 44 1/3 innings. The bulk of that work came with the Snakes, for whom he posted a 4.43 ERA between April 11 and July 23, his last MLB appearance of the season.
Ruiz will be invited to Major League Spring Training with an outside chance at a roster spot, and he fits the mold of low-profile relievers the Phillies have targeted over the past few seasons. He allowed 10 homers and 21 walks — rates of 2.0 and 4.3, respectively, per nine innings — along with six hit batters in the big leagues this season. Walks in particular have been a theme for Ruiz throughout his career.
He also averaged 96.5 mph on his four-seamer and 96.2 mph on his sinker, so the Phillies will take the kind of low-risk, high-reward chance they’ve been known to take on high-velocity relievers under Dave Dombrowski. Ruiz is out of options, as MLBTR points out, so if he ever makes the MLB roster, he can’t then be optioned without first clearing waivers.
Maybe joining the Phillies will help Ruiz, if only because he doesn’t have to face them. The team slashed .438/.591/.875 in 22 plate appearances against him in 2023. The only team he struggled with more was the Cleveland Guardians, who Ruiz faced for 10 plate appearances.