The Phillies recently signed relievers key man to minor league contracts, as noted on the team’s transaction log and the players’ social media accounts.
Both pitchers saw limited action in the majors during 2024. Crismatt, who turned 30 this week, made five appearances for the Dodgers early in the season before spending the rest of the year in Triple-A across three organizations—Los Angeles, San Diego, and Texas. He struggled in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, posting a 5.81 ERA over 79 innings. While his strikeout rate (20.7%) was slightly below average, his 7.5% walk rate was respectable. Despite his Triple-A struggles, Crismatt has a solid major league track record, carrying a career 3.71 ERA across five seasons, including a strong 2021-22 stint with San Diego. Over the past two years, however, he has only pitched 20 innings in the big leagues.
Zuñiga, 26, made his MLB debut with two appearances for the Cardinals in 2023 before being traded to the Angels in February for cash considerations.
He pitched in 15 games for the Angels, recording a 5.09 ERA over 17 2/3 innings with 12 strikeouts and eight walks. At Triple-A, Zuñiga logged a 5.19 ERA in 26 innings, with a disappointing 14.3% strikeout rate—a notable drop from his previous performances. In 2023, he struck out 25% of batters faced in Triple-A and often exceeded 30% in the lower minors. Known for his velocity, Zuñiga averaged 97 MPH with his fastball in 2024 and nearly 99 MPH during his brief MLB stint with the Cardinals in 2023.
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