The Philadelphia Phillies made a low-profile move during their ongoing series with the Arizona Diamondbacks, adding right-handed pitcher Sam Carlson to the organization on a minor-league contract. The signing came as Philadelphia continues to strengthen its pitching depth for the final stretch of the regular season, with the club making the move on Sept. 1 while battling for position in the National League playoff race. MLB’s official transaction log confirmed that Carlson signed with Philadelphia and was subsequently assigned to the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils.
Carlson, 27, brings a lengthy minor-league résumé and several years of experience moving through different organizations. The right-hander was originally selected by the Seattle Mariners in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Burnsville High School in Minnesota. His development was interrupted by Tommy John surgery in 2018, forcing him to miss the entire 2019 season, but he eventually worked his way back into professional baseball and remained in the Mariners’ system through 2023. He later spent time with the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros organizations before landing with Philadelphia.
What makes the signing particularly interesting is Carlson’s performance at Triple-A earlier this season. Pitching for the Houston Astros’ Triple-A affiliate, Sugar Land, Carlson recorded a 3.47 ERA across 36.1 innings, striking out 43 batters while issuing 14 walks. He was released by Houston on Aug. 4, shortly after the trade deadline, despite putting together respectable numbers at the highest level of the minor leagues. Philadelphia evidently saw enough in those numbers and in his underlying pitching profile to give him another opportunity.
Carlson has gradually evolved from the starting-pitcher role he was originally developed for into a bullpen option. Across 96 career Triple-A innings, he has a 3.94 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 76 appearances, all coming as a reliever. His overall minor-league record includes 352.1 innings over 196 games, including 33 starts, with 408 strikeouts and a 4.50 ERA. That experience could make him particularly useful to a Phillies organization looking for additional depth that can be developed without immediately committing a major-league roster spot.
His pitching arsenal also gives Philadelphia something to work with. Carlson has been described as having an advanced feel for pitching and primarily works with a sinking fastball in the 91-94 mph range, along with a slider and cutter. The cutter has become an important part of his attack, giving him another pitch with which to challenge hitters and generate weak contact. While he does not arrive with the profile of a major free-agent acquisition, his ability to mix pitches and work multiple innings could make him an intriguing organizational depth piece.
The timing of the move is also notable. Philadelphia entered September in the middle of a major postseason push, having surged during August and carried that momentum into Arizona. The Phillies won their series opener against the Diamondbacks, then followed it with another victory to extend their winning streak to six games. Philadelphia finished August with a 21-7 record, the best mark in Major League Baseball for the month, and entered September firmly in the National League playoff picture.
The Phillies have already demonstrated this season that they are willing to search outside their existing system for pitching help. The organization previously claimed right-hander Andrew Hoffmann off waivers from Arizona and signed veteran left-hander Nestor Cortes to a minor-league contract. The Carlson addition follows that same philosophy: accumulate inexpensive pitching depth and give players with intriguing traits an opportunity to prove themselves within the organization. Philadelphia’s official transaction history also shows a number of recent pitching moves involving the major- and minor-league levels.
Carlson’s immediate destination is important because he will not simply be thrown into the major-league bullpen. He was assigned to Reading, allowing the Phillies to evaluate him in a controlled environment while monitoring how his stuff plays against Double-A hitters. From there, a strong showing could potentially put him on the radar for a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where the organization can evaluate him against more advanced hitters and determine whether he has a realistic path toward the major leagues.
For Philadelphia, there is little downside to the move. The team is not making a major financial commitment, and Carlson gets another opportunity with an organization that has legitimate postseason ambitions. If he performs well, the Phillies could potentially have another bullpen option available later in the season or during the offseason. If he struggles, the organization can move on without having sacrificed significant resources.
The signing also illustrates the different ways contenders build pitching depth once the calendar reaches September. With expanded rosters and the postseason approaching, organizations need pitchers capable of stepping in when injuries, workload concerns or performance issues arise. Carlson’s previous Triple-A experience means he has already faced that level of competition, while his transition to relief pitching gives Philadelphia another potential avenue to develop him.
For Phillies fans, this is not the type of transaction that will dominate headlines alongside Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber or the club’s postseason chase. But these quieter additions can become meaningful later. Philadelphia has spent much of the season trying to balance a veteran-heavy roster with younger players and organizational depth, and Carlson now gets a chance to become another piece of that puzzle.
The Phillies’ decision to sign him is therefore less about expecting an immediate impact and more about creating another potential pitching option. Carlson’s 2026 Triple-A numbers, strikeout ability and experience across several organizations make him an intriguing gamble. Whether he can turn that opportunity into a major-league return remains to be seen, but Philadelphia clearly believes his arm is worth another look.
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