PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 10: Connor Brogdon #75 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action against the Oakland Athletics during a game at Citizens Bank Park on April 10, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
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The Philadelphia Phillies have kept many of the same players on the roster since the team’s 2022 run all the way to the World Series, though the returns have been diminishing.
After the team brought back JT Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber with new contracts for this winter, it had retained that pair along with several other familiar faces from that pennant winning roster. But in the past two seasons, the team has won just two playoff games combined.
And while the Phillies can point to their prior success as a good reason to run it back with these veteran stars, time might not be on their side.
“The core of that (2022) club remains, from Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto to Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler,” Ken Rosenthal wrote for The Athletic. “But they’re all four years older now, and after repeated disappointment in the postseason, the underlying fear is that this group has already peaked.”
Of course, the Phillies have made some significant changes as well. They have promoted top prospects Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford into key big-league roles. They have cut ties with Nick Castellanos and brought in Adolis Garcia. And the bullpen has been extensively revamped over the years.
Philadelphia Phillies’ 5-Year Veteran Connor Brogdon Cut From New Team’s Big-League Roster
One long-time reliever who was a member of that World Series roster has struggled since leaving the Phillies, with Connor Brogdon now cut from the Cleveland Guardians major-league roster shortly after his season debut.
After joining the Guardians on a one-year, $900,000 contract, Brogdon appeared in just 15 games before being designated for assignment, clearing waivers and accepting an outright move to the Triple-A affiliate in Columbus.
“The Guards took a shot on Brogdon this winter by giving him that $900K deal,” Darragh McDonald wrote for MLB Trade Rumors. “The gamble didn’t pay off, or at least hasn’t yet. Brogdon tossed 15 1/3 innings out of the Cleveland bullpen before being designated for assignment.”
Phillies Former Shutout World Series Reliever Sees Roster Cut After Harsh Debut
Phillies fans will remember Brogdon for his stint with the team from 2020 to 2024, which saw him pitch 144 innings with a 3.88 ERA and 146 strikeouts. In the team’s 2022 postseason run, Brogdon posted a 2.08 ERA with 13 strikeouts in seven games, including four shutout World Series innings.
But in 2024, the Phillies designated him for assignment shortly after the season started and he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. All told that year his ERA was 24.00, then it was over 5.00 across 43 games for the Los Angeles Angels last season.
Now, after a harsh start for the Guardians, Brogdon will look to bounce back to his one-time Phillies form and could see another opportunity to return to his new team’s big-league roster soon.
“Since he has accepted his assignment, they can keep him in the system as depth without him using a roster spot,” McDonald added. “If he gets in a nice groove for the (Columbus) Clippers or the big league club simply needs some fresh arms later in the year, he can be added back to the roster.”