Benoit Signed as Bullpen Help, Mariot DFA'd

2017 Chachi New Additions #4

This seems to be another offseason in which the Phillies will only make a few incremental improvements to their team as they wait for their top prospects to fully blossom.  On Tuesday, the signing of free-agent reliever Joaquin Benoit was officially announced, and Benoit is expected to fill a late-inning bullpen role.  The 15-year veteran split time last season between the Mariners and Blue Jays, compiling a 2.81 ERA over 48 innings pitched.

Benoit has several 2016 baseball card appearances to his name.  He appears with the Padres in Topps Series One and with the Blue Jays in Topps Update.  For some strange reason he has two cards within Topps Heritage, both featuring him with the Mariners.

Michael Mariot was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Benoit.

Moving On - 2016-2017 Offseason

• Cedric Hunter - of (10/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• James Russell - lhp (10/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• Emmanuel Burriss - inf (10/7/16) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Frank Herrmann - rhp (10/7/16) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Jimmy Paredes - of (10/7/16) - Outrighted off 40-man roster and elected free agency.
• Patrick Schuster - lhp (10/7/16) - Outrighted off 40-man roster, elected free agency and signed as a minor league free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers, 11/5/16.
• Ryan Howard - 1b (11/3/16) - Team option declined and elected free agency.
• Charlie Morton - rhp (11/3/16) - Team option declined, elected free agency and signed with the Houston Astros, 11/16/16.
• Andres Blanco - inf (11/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• Peter Bourjos - of (11/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• A.J. Ellis - c (11/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• David Hernandez - rhp (11/3/16) - Elected free agency.
• Darin Ruf - 1b-of and Darnell Sweeney - inf-of (11/11/16) - Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Howie Kendrick.
• Elvis Araujo - rhp (11/18/16) - Claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins.
• David Buchanan - rhp (11/23/16) - Released.
• Cody Asche - of (12/2/16) - Designated for assignment and non-tendered.
• Michael Mariot - rhp (12/6/16) - Designated for assignment.

Coming Back

• Jeremy Hellickson - rhp (11/3/16) - Elected free agency, accepted team's qualifying offer, 11/14/16.

New Additions - 2016-2017 Offseason

• Pat Neshek - rhp (11/4/16) - Acquired from the Houston Astros for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
• Howie Kendrick - lf (11/11/16) - Acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Darin Ruf and Darnell Sweeney.
• David Rollins - lhp (12/2/16) - Claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers.
• Joaquin Benoit - rhp (12/6/16) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Toronto Blue Jays.