In a move that has become a recurring theme for the player, the Philadelphia Phillies officially announced this afternoon their decision to designate right-handed pitcher Brett de Geus for assignment. This marks a significant moment in the 2025 season for de Geus, who has now faced the DFA process multiple times within this calendar year alone, highlighting the transient nature of a journeyman pitcher’s career in Major League Baseball.
Indeed, the Phillies are the fourth team to designate the 27-year-old Brett de Geus for assignment in 2025, underscoring a particularly challenging year of constant roster churn. His journey through various organizations this season began with the Toronto Blue Jays, who first designated him for assignment before trading him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations back in January. This initial transaction set the stage for a whirlwind of movement for the well-traveled hurler.
Little over a month after arriving in Pittsburgh, the Pirates also opted to designate de Geus for assignment. Following this decision, the Miami Marlins subsequently claimed him off waivers, marking his second stint with their organization. This rapid succession of team changes illustrates the precarious position many relief pitchers face in today’s highly competitive MLB landscape, where roster spots are constantly evaluated and optimized.
Opening the 2025 season with the Marlins’ Triple-A affiliate in Jacksonville, de Geus made just one appearance for the Jumbo Shrimp before he was once again designated for assignment. It was at this point that the Philadelphia Phillies entered the picture, claiming him off waivers. They, too, initially assigned Brett de Geus to their Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley, hoping he might provide valuable depth or a fresh arm for their bullpen.
Eventually, the Phillies recalled the righty for his 2025 Major League Baseball debut in late May. His brief tenure saw him give up one run in two innings of work before he was promptly optioned back to Lehigh Valley the following day, signaling that the organization felt his immediate contribution wasn’t sufficient to maintain a coveted 40-man roster spot. This quick turnaround is typical in baseball’s transactional world, especially for players on the fringe of the big leagues.
De Geus’s overall professional trajectory began after he was selected 1,000th overall in the 2017 draft. Since then, he has navigated a complex path through numerous prominent baseball organizations, including the Dodgers, Rangers, Diamondbacks, Royals, Mariners, Marlins, and Blue Jays, before his most recent stop with the Philadelphia Phillies. His career is a testament to perseverance, but also to the demanding and often unforgiving nature of the sport.
Having made his big league debut as a Rule 5 draft pick in 2021, de Geus pitched 50 innings of relief for both Texas and Arizona, posting a 7.56 ERA and 4.60 SIERA, metrics that indicate his struggles to consistently perform at the elite level required. After being released by the D-backs in 2022 and brief stints in the Atlantic League, he returned to affiliated ball in 2023. He made his way back to the majors in 2024, pitching 11 1/3 innings for the Mariners, Marlins, and Blue Jays with a 7.15 ERA and 4.19 SIERA, continuing a pattern of inconsistency. The space on the 40-man roster vacated by de Geus will now be filled by a recently acquired player, reflecting the continuous strategic adjustments teams make to optimize their rosters.
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