The Phillies made their first two additions of the offseason, acquiring left-handed pitcher Josh Fleming from the Tampa Bay Rays on waivers and right-handed pitcher Michael Mercado from the Rays.
Fleming, 27, has been in the majors for parts of the past four seasons with the Rays, appearing in 55 games and posting a 4.88 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.
He appeared in 12 games last season, three times as a starter and nine times as an opening day bulk reliever. All of his dozen appearances were between the third and sixth innings. His best two-game performance was six scoreless innings against the Astros in April and six two-run innings against the Blue Jays in May.
The left-handed pitcher hit .192 with Fleming in 2023. He will enter spring training aiming for a spot on the Phillies’ pitching staff, and if he is able to join the club, he could fill a Dylan Covey-like role.
Mercado was acquired in a cash trade for right-handed pitcher Adam Leverett, who spent the past two seasons in Double-A.
Mercado was a second-round pick of the Rays in 2017, five spots before the Phillies selected Spencer Howard. Mercado has yet to appear in the majors, splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A in 2023, striking out 95 batters in 62 innings in his first full season as a reliever.
The Phillies’ 40-man roster is now 38 players, but they have removed two pitchers, Michael Plassmayer and Erich Yurmen.