Phillies sign once promising Twins pitcher in hopes of reviving his career
The Phillies are a year removed from helping another former Twins player.
There are a few traditions Minnesota Twins fans can count on each year, regardless of how the team ends up performing on the field. One is the annual signing of a former name-brand veteran who may or may not have something left in the tank. The other is knowing a former player is going to do something great for another team and drive us all crazy.
Luis Gil did that with rather frustrating results last season, and you just know it's going to happen again with someone else.
One sleeper candidate to do it is former Twins reliever Cody Stashak. He signed a minor-league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies this week, with an invitation to Spring Training, and is the type of once-promising player who seems like he could be put in a spot to break out.
Phillies sign former Twins pitcher Cody Stashak to a minor-league deal
Stashak appeared in 55 games for the Twins between 2019 and 2022 and for his career has a 4-1 record, a 4.13 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 83 strikeouts. He's bounced around between Minnesota and San Francisco since making his debut, but the Phillies are hoping to apply some of the magic pitching elixir they used reviving Jeff Hoffman to get the most out of Stashak.
It's not the first former Twins pitcher who Philly is hoping to help bounce back.
Last year the Phillies added reliever Jeff Hoffman, who was with the Twins for a cup of coffee back in 2023 before opting out of his deal and electing free agency. After arriving in Philadelphia, Hoffman eventually latched onto the MLB roster and absolutely soared this past season. He went to the All-Star Game while finishing the year with a 2.17 ERA and 0.965 WHIP.
That's the sort of revival the Phillies are hoping to get out of Stashek, who showed promise early in his career but has been unable to recapture the magic. He might not end up an All-Star, but if he pitches well enough to meaingfully add to the Phillies' bullpen then it will continue a time honored tradition of former Twins players going on to do great things outside of Minnesota.
More Minnesota Twins news and rumors
feed