Phillies make two bullpen-focused moves, land a high upside arm in the Rule 5 Draft
The Phillies wrapped up the 2025 Winter Meetings with two bullpen focused moves. They made a small trade, then turned around and grabbed a high upside arm in the Rule 5 Draft.
Both additions fit the same philosophy the organization has leaned on for years, in finding big velocity, harnessing it, and hoping the pitching lab can turn raw stuff into something real.
The first move came when the Phillies acquired righty Yoniel Curet from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for reliever Tommy McCollum.
Curet is only 23 years old and is currently pitching in the Dominican Winter League. Tampa Bay had just DFA’d him earlier in the week. He pitched at three levels for the Rays in 2025, but he struggled in Triple A and was squeezed off the roster.
Phillies acquire righty Yoniel Curet from the Tampa Bay Rays
The appeal is obvious.
Curet entered 2025 as the number two pitching prospect in the Rays system according to FanGraphs and has one of the liveliest fastballs in the minors. The issue is that he cannot always find the strike zone.
Across five minor league seasons he has allowed only 5.9 hits per nine innings, but he has walked 5.3 batters per nine. The Phillies believe that number can come down if he transitions to the bullpen and works with their pitching development staff.
They have already proven they can fix wild pitchers who come out of Tampa Bay. Jose Alvarado had a 5.9 walk rate in the minors. Cristopher Sanchez sat at 4.2.
Both were transformed in Philadelphia and are now two of the most valuable arms in the entire organization. Betting on Curet’s fastball is not some blind gamble. It is a calculated move based on the Phillies track record of cleaning up mechanics and command.
The Phillies needed another live arm with options and Curet checks every box.
McCollum heads to Tampa Bay after a strong 2025 season. He pitched across three levels and posted a 3.07 ERA with a dozen saves at Double A. He was a good organizational reliever, but the Phillies were clearly searching for more ceiling.
Phillies take righty Zach McCambley from the Miami Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft
McCambley must make the Opening Day roster and stay in the majors all season or else he is returned to Miami.
The front office is confident he has a real shot to break camp. McCambley has a devastating sweeper that sits at 84 to 85 miles per hour with more than 15 inches of horizontal movement.
He dominated right handed hitters in Double A and Triple A last season and posted a 2.90 ERA with a 33 percent strikeout rate and an 8.8 percent walk rate.
The Phillies have been searching for a right handed specialist who can neutralize pockets of right handed bats in late inning situations.
Zach McCambley appears to fit that need perfectly.
So long, Griff McGarry
The Phillies did lose a familiar name during the Rule 5 Draft. The Washington Nationals selected right handed pitcher Griff McGarry with the third pick. McGarry had a strong bounce back season in 2025 and even won Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
The control issues never completely disappeared, but they improved enough for him to post a 3.44 ERA across 21 starts.
The Phillies could have protected him. They did not.
Considering the bullpen turnover that continues this winter, the approach is clear. The Phillies are stockpiling velocity, bet on stuff, and trust their pitching coaches to turn raw arms into reliable contributors.
Track record speaks for itself. Moves fit the formula. We’ll see how it works out.
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