The Philadelphia Phillies are sticking with a familiar formula, bringing back reliever Lou Trivino on a minor league contract while also extending him an invitation to major league spring training. In other words they’re running it back once again.
The move, first reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, reunites the Phillies with a pitcher who already had a brief stint with the club late last season. Trivino appeared in a handful of games down the stretch, giving the organization a firsthand look at what he can still offer out of the bullpen. That prior exposure likely played a role in the front office’s comfort level with bringing him back as a depth option.
Rather than standing pat with their current roster, Philadelphia continues to quietly build bullpen insurance through low-risk signings. Minor league deals like this one don’t grab headlines, but they can prove valuable over the course of a long season, especially for a team with postseason ambitions. Relievers are notoriously volatile, and having experienced arms available in Triple-A or competing in camp often becomes crucial when injuries or performance issues arise.
Trivino, once a key late-inning option earlier in his career, now gets another opportunity to pitch his way into the Phillies’ plans. A strong spring showing could put him in the conversation for a bullpen role, while the minor league deal gives the club flexibility with virtually no downside.
For fans who joked that the Phillies seemed content with their roster construction, this signing is another example that the front office isn’t done tweaking around the edges. It may not be a blockbuster, but it’s yet another “keep the depth coming” move as the organization prepares for the grind of a new season.
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