The Philadelphia Phillies entered the offseason knowing their bullpen needed reinforcements, and that need became even more pronounced after the team moved All-Star reliever Matt Strahm in a December trade. With Strahm gone, the Phillies were left thin on left-handed relief options, making bullpen depth—especially from the left side—a clear priority as they reshaped their pitching staff.
Philadelphia addressed part of that need early by signing former Chicago Cubs breakout pitcher Brad Keller, who is expected to work in a high-leverage role ahead of closer Jhoan Duran. The club also brought in several experienced arms to bolster competition and depth, including Jonathan Bowlan, Zach Pop, and Trevor Richards. Those additions signaled a clear intent to rebuild the bullpen with a mix of upside and veteran stability.
On Thursday, the Phillies added another familiar name to that mix. According to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, Philadelphia re-signed left-handed reliever Tim Mayza to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major league spring training. While the deal does not guarantee Mayza a roster spot, it gives him a legitimate opportunity to compete for a role when camp opens.
Mayza is no stranger to the organization. The Phillies originally acquired him late last season when they claimed him off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 31. Down the stretch, he appeared in eight games for Philadelphia, giving up four earned runs over 7 1/3 innings. Although his role was limited, the Phillies felt comfortable enough with his presence to include him on their roster for the National League Division Series, even though he did not see game action during the postseason.
Interest in Mayza was not limited to Philadelphia. MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported that the Boston Red Sox had also shown interest in the veteran reliever before he ultimately decided to return to the Phillies, suggesting there was still league-wide belief in his potential value.
Most of Mayza’s major league success came earlier in his career with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he spent the first six and a half seasons. From 2021 through 2023, Mayza was one of the most reliable relievers in Toronto’s bullpen, particularly during the 2023 season. That year, he posted an outstanding 1.53 ERA over 53 1/3 innings and was widely viewed as one of the Blue Jays’ most effective bullpen arms as the team secured a wild-card playoff spot.
However, the 2024 season was a sharp downturn for the veteran. Struggles led to his release in July, ending his long tenure in Toronto. Still, the season took an unexpected turn when he joined the New York Yankees in a limited role and became part of their run to an American League pennant.
Now approaching his age-34 season, Mayza enters spring training facing stiff competition. With several bullpen spots up for grabs, he will be battling for one of the final openings on the Phillies’ relief staff. If he can rediscover even a portion of the form he showed during his peak years, Mayza could prove to be a low-risk, high-reward addition for a Phillies team intent on building a deeper, more reliable bullpen.
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