Philadelphia Phillies Move On From Veteran Pitchers as Roster Changes Continue
The Philadelphia Phillies continued making adjustments to their pitching depth this week, parting ways with two experienced veterans as the organization reshapes its bullpen options ahead of the next stage of the season. The moves involved right-handed reliever Darwinzon Hernandez and left-handed pitcher Génesis Cabrera, both of whom have spent time at the Major League level in recent years.
One of the biggest developments came when Hernandez quickly found a new opportunity after leaving Philadelphia. Just one day after being released by the Phillies, the veteran reliever signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. The Dodgers, known for constantly strengthening their pitching staff, are expected to use Hernandez as another bullpen option as they continue navigating the long MLB season.
Although Hernandez has not appeared in the majors since the 2024 campaign, teams remain intrigued by his power arm and previous experience at the highest level. During the 2024 season, Hernandez split time between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners. Across 43.1 innings pitched that year, he posted a 5.40 ERA along with a 1.59 WHIP. He also recorded 39 strikeouts while issuing 28 walks, numbers that reflected both his ability to miss bats and his ongoing command issues.
Despite those inconsistencies, Hernandez still possesses the type of velocity and bullpen upside that can attract interest from playoff contenders. The Dodgers appear willing to take a chance on the 28-year-old in hopes that a change of scenery and strong pitching development system could help him rediscover his form.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia also made another notable bullpen-related move involving veteran left-hander Génesis Cabrera. Unlike Hernandez, Cabrera was not outright released from baseball activity, as the Phillies instead signed him to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to spring training. The move gives the organization another experienced arm to evaluate while creating competition within camp.
Cabrera spent the 2025 season bouncing between four different Major League teams, highlighting the journeyman nature of his recent career. Across those appearances, he struggled to produce consistent results, finishing with a 6.54 ERA over 42.2 innings pitched. He also totaled 35 strikeouts against 18 walks during that span.
One interesting aspect of Cabrera’s performance was the major split between how he handled left-handed hitters compared to right-handed batters. Lefties struggled against him, hitting just .197 with limited production overall. However, right-handed hitters had much more success, posting a powerful .333 batting average along with a .646 slugging percentage. That imbalance created challenges for teams trying to use him consistently in high-leverage situations.
Because the Phillies already have established left-handed bullpen options such as Jose Alvarado and Tanner Banks, Cabrera faces an uphill battle to secure a permanent role on the Opening Day roster. Younger pitchers, including Kyle Backhus, are also competing for opportunities, which further increases the challenge for the veteran reliever.
For Philadelphia, these decisions reflect the organization’s continued effort to strengthen its bullpen depth while maintaining roster flexibility throughout the season. The Phillies remain focused on building a pitching staff capable of supporting another postseason push, even if that means making difficult decisions regarding experienced veterans.
While Hernandez now begins a fresh chapter with the Dodgers and Cabrera attempts to fight his way into the Phillies’ plans, both pitchers will be looking to prove they can still contribute meaningfully at the Major League level before the 2026 campaign progresses further.
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