The Philadelphia Phillies are actively seeking additional players to bolster their roster in the ongoing offseason as they strive to assemble a team capable of competing for and securing their first World Series championship since 2008. Despite having notable stars in both their lineup and starting rotation, the bullpen remains an area of uncertainty. While they could have pursued the top reliever on the market, Josh Hader, the financial implications of his contract with the Houston Astros deterred them, considering their already elevated franchise-high payroll.
As the Phillies explore alternative options in the free agent market for bullpen reinforcements, an interesting prospect emerges in the form of their former reliever, Ken Giles, who is in the midst of a Major League comeback. The Phillies drafted Giles in the seventh round of the 2011 MLB Draft, and although he wasn’t initially considered one of their top prospects, he gradually ascended through their system, making his Major League debut in 2014.
During his two-year stint with the Phillies, the right-hander delivered an impressive performance, boasting an ERA of 1.56 across 113 appearances.Following the 2015 season, the Phillies traded Giles, along with Jonathan Arauz, to the Astros in exchange for Mark Appel, Vince Velasquez, Brett Oberholtzer, Tom Eshelman, and Harold Arauz. While Giles contributed to the Astros’ 2017 World Series championship, his postseason struggles led to limited usage, and he was subsequently traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. After three seasons with the Blue Jays, Giles signed with the Seattle Mariners in free agency. Unfortunately, he missed the entire 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery, and injuries restricted him to just five appearances in 2022, marking the beginning of his journey in the minor leagues.
Now, as reported by Jon Heyman of The New York Post, Giles is fully recovered and set to showcase his abilities in a bullpen session for interested teams as he embarks on his Major League comeback.