Estévez reports to club, Rucker optioned
Right-handed pitcher Carlos Estévez reported to the club today following a trade from the Los Angeles Angels on July 27. To make room for him on the 26-man roster, right-handed pitcher Michael Rucker was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.
Estévez, 31, posted a 2.38 ERA (9 ER, 34.0 IP) and 0.74 WHIP (5 BB, 20 H) in 34 appearances for the Angels this season. Among the 379 pitchers in Major League Baseball this year with at least 30.0 innings pitched, Estévez’s 0.74 WHIP ranks second, trailing only Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase (0.66). He is 20-for-23 in save opportunities this year and since May 20, has converted each of his last 14 and has posted a 0.64 ERA (1 ER, 14.0 IP) and 0.36 WHIP (2 BB, 3 H) in those save chances. Estévez will wear No. 53.
A veteran of eight major league seasons (2016-24), Estévez has pitched for the Colorado Rockies (2016-17; 2019-22) and Angels (2023-24). He was originally signed by the Rockies as an amateur free agent on May 31, 2011.
Rucker, 30, was reinstated from the 60-day injured list on July 26 but did not appear in a game for the Phillies after being reinstated. He appeared in 12 rehab games this season between single-A Clearwater, double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley and posted a 3.21 ERA (5 ER, 14.0 IP) with 21 strikeouts to three walks.
Originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round of the 2016 MLB Draft, Rucker was acquired by the Phillies in a trade on Feb. 6, 2024.