PHILADELPHIA — In a move aimed at bolstering their bullpen depth ahead of the 2026 season, the Philadelphia Phillies announced on Monday that they have signed right-handed reliever Zach Pop to a one-year major league contract. The 29-year-old Canadian, who becomes the 39th player on the team’s 40-man roster, will compete for one of the remaining spots in a revamped relief corps that has seen significant turnover this offseason.
Pop, a native of Brampton, Ontario, brings a sinker-heavy arsenal and a track record of ground-ball inducement to a Phillies club that has prioritized adding right-handed arms capable of handling high-leverage situations. While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the agreement guarantees Pop a major league salary and a chance to avoid the minor leagues, as he is out of options. This stipulation gives him an edge in spring training battles, where he could secure a middle-relief role or even emerge as a setup option if he recaptures his form from earlier in his career.
The signing comes just days after the Phillies fortified their bullpen with other additions, including a two-year pact for veteran righty Brad Keller and the retention of closer Jhoan Duran on a long-term extension. Philadelphia’s front office, led by president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, has been aggressive in addressing a unit that ranked 21st in MLB with a 4.25 ERA during the 2025 regular season. Despite posting 27 saves as a group, the bullpen faltered in key moments during the playoffs, contributing to an early exit and prompting a winter overhaul.
“Zach is a guy we’ve had our eyes on for his ability to generate weak contact and keep the ball on the ground,” Dombrowski said in a statement released by the team. “He’s out of options, which means he’s motivated, and his stuff plays up in short bursts. We’re excited to see him compete in Clearwater.”
Pop’s pitch mix is tailor-made for inducing grounders: a mid-96 mph sinker that he throws over 50% of the time, complemented by an 85 mph slider and a 93 mph cutter. In his most effective seasons, this repertoire has resulted in ground-ball rates exceeding 55%, a valuable trait for a Phillies team that plays in hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. Analysts point to similarities with former Phillie Jeff Hoffman, who parlayed a sinker-slider combo into a breakout All-Star campaign before departing in free agency after the 2024 season.
Yet Pop’s journey to Philadelphia has been anything but straightforward. Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of the University of Kentucky, Pop quickly established himself as a promising reliever in the minors. He posted a sparkling 1.53 ERA across 44 appearances in 2018, split between the Dodgers’ and Baltimore Orioles’ systems after being traded in the Manny Machado deal. His strikeout totals were impressive—64 in just 53 innings—and he limited opponents to a .198 batting average.
That momentum carried into the majors. Selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft and immediately flipped to the Miami Marlins, Pop made his MLB debut on April 3, 2021, firing a scoreless inning against the Tampa Bay Rays. In his rookie year, he appeared in 50 games for Miami, compiling a 4.12 ERA over 54 innings with 50 strikeouts and a 1.35 WHIP. His ground-ball rate hovered around 58%, helping the Marlins navigate a rebuilding phase.
Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays midway through the 2022 season as part of a package for outfielder Teoscar Hernández, Pop settled into a reliable middle-relief role north of the border. Over the next two-plus years in Toronto, he logged 108 appearances, posting a 3.98 ERA and inducing grounders at a 52% clip. His best stretch came in 2023, when he notched a 3.86 ERA in 47 games and held right-handed hitters to a .235 average. Pop’s cutter emerged as a weapon against same-side batters, generating whiffs on nearly 30% of swings.
However, 2025 proved to be a tumultuous year that tested Pop’s resilience. Starting the season with the Seattle Mariners on a minor league deal, he earned a promotion but struggled mightily in his initial outings, surrendering 11 earned runs in just 6 2/3 innings. Designated for assignment in May, he elected free agency and latched on with the New York Mets. His tenure in Queens was even shorter—one appearance, two-thirds of an inning, and another DFA in July. In total, Pop’s 2025 stat line was ugly: five games, 0-1 record, 14.85 ERA, and a WHIP ballooning to 2.85.
Critics pointed to command issues—Pop walked 10 batters in those limited innings—and a dip in velocity, with his sinker averaging just under 95 mph at times. Yet scouts who followed him closely noted that the small sample size masked underlying positives. His expected ERA (xERA) based on quality of contact was around 5.50, suggesting bad luck played a role in the inflated runs allowed. Moreover, Pop’s ground-ball prowess remained intact, even in failure; opponents managed only a .300 slugging percentage against him despite the hits falling in.
For the Phillies, this represents a classic low-risk, high-reward flier. With no draft pick compensation attached and Pop coming off a down year, the one-year pact allows Philadelphia to evaluate him without long-term commitment. If he flops, he can be released with minimal financial fallout. If he succeeds, he could fill the void left by departures like Hoffman and Matt Strahm, who was traded earlier this offseason for prospect Jonathan Bowlan.
The competition in spring training will be fierce. The Phillies’ projected 2026 bullpen already features a strong core: Duran as the closer after his dominant 2025 campaign (where he saved 35 games with a sub-2.00 ERA post-trade from Minnesota), José Alvarado as the lefty fireman, Orion Kerkering in setup duties, and Keller providing multi-inning length. Left-handed options include Tanner Banks, while Rule 5 pick Zach McCambley and recent acquisitions Yoniel Curet and Tyler Backhus add youth. Returnees like Nolan Hoffman, Seth Johnson, and Max Lazar round out the mix.
Pop’s lack of options means the Phillies must carry him on the active roster or risk losing him on waivers—a scenario that favors his inclusion on Opening Day. Manager Rob Thomson, entering his fifth year at the helm, has emphasized versatility in the bullpen. “We want guys who can face both lefties and righties, get ground balls in big spots, and throw strikes,” Thomson said during the winter meetings. Pop fits that mold, particularly against right-handers, where his career OPS allowed is .712 compared to .785 versus lefties.
Off the field, Pop’s signing adds an international flavor to the clubhouse. As one of just a handful of Canadian-born players in the majors, he joins a Phillies roster that values cultural diversity. His time with the Canadian Junior National Team and his hockey background—he played the sport growing up in Brampton—could endear him to fans in a city passionate about both baseball and ice hockey.
Broader context underscores why the Phillies are stockpiling relievers. After winning the National League pennant in 2022 but falling short in subsequent postseasons, bullpen volatility has been a recurring theme. In 2025, the unit blew 18 saves and posted a 4.50 ERA in high-leverage situations. Dombrowski, known for his aggressive roster-building, has spent the offseason plugging holes: acquiring Duran at the trade deadline, signing Keller to a $22 million deal, and now adding Pop. The team still has one roster spot open and is in negotiations to re-sign catcher J.T. Realmuto, whose decision could impact payroll flexibility.
Industry reactions to the Pop signing have been measured. MLB Network analyst Jon Morosi praised it as “smart depth,” noting Pop’s 4.45 career ERA over 158 appearances is serviceable for a seventh- or eighth-inning arm. On the flip side, some fans on social media expressed skepticism given his 2025 implosion, with one viral post quipping, “Phillies adding Pop to the bullpen—hope it’s not the sound of leads exploding.”
Statistically, Pop’s career marks him as a durable innings-eater when healthy. Across 163 MLB games, he’s 8-6 with a 4.88 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 142 strikeouts in 162 1/3 innings. His FIP (4.42) suggests he’s been slightly unlucky, and advanced metrics like a 48.5% ground-ball rate rank in the 75th percentile among relievers. If pitching coach Caleb Cotham can refine his command—Pop’s career walk rate is 9.8%—he could exceed expectations.
Looking ahead, Pop’s role could evolve based on performance. In a best-case scenario, he becomes a ground-ball machine in the sixth or seventh inning, bridging to the high-leverage trio of Kerkering, Alvarado, and Duran. Worst case, he provides organizational depth and is jettisoned by midseason. Either way, the signing exemplifies the Phillies’ strategy: churn the bottom of the roster with upside plays while investing big in proven talent.
As the holidays approach, Pop heads into 2026 with a fresh start in a contender’s uniform. “I’m grateful for the opportunity in Philly,” Pop said via the team’s release. “Ready to compete and help this team win.” For a franchise chasing its first World Series since 2008, every bullpen arm counts—and Zach Pop is the latest to join the fight.