Former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Zach Pop lands surprising deal with the Philadelphia Phillies
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Victor William
Dec 22, 2025 (7:23 PM)
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Photo credit: Gerry Angus-Imagn Images
Former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Zach Pop has managed to sign a new deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Pop had a rough 2025 season and ended up signing a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs in July where he finished the season before electing free agency.
Phillies sign Zach Pop to major league deal
The Phillies announced this afternoon that they reached an agreement with Pop on a one year major league deal which no one saw coming.
Throw another name into the mix for the last bullpen spot. The #Phillies signed RHP Zach Pop to a one-year contract, the team announced. Pop, 29, has a 4.88 ERA in 162.1 innings in his career, including a 14.85 mark last season. He's out of options. It's a major-league contract.
The reason this is such a big surprise is because Pop finished with a rough 14.85 ERA in 6.2 innings pitched with an 0-1 record last season between the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs.
Phillies fans were not thrilled with the deal due to the fact that it is a major league deal instead of minor league which means Pop is guaranteed a bullpen spot for next season.
I would've been thrilled with this if it were a MiLB deal, but guaranteeing Zach Pop a spot in this Phillies bullpen feels really odd.
Pop has had a rough last couple of years bouncing around a few teams and is still trying to regain his magic from his 2022 season where he finished with a 2.77 ERA for the Miami Marlins and Blue Jays.
The total amount in this deal has yet to be announced by the Phillies but it will most likely not be very much due to his numbers over the last few seasons.
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DECEMBRE 22|365 ANSWERS Former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Zach Pop lands surprising deal with the Philadelphia Phillies Is this Zach Pop deal surprising? | ||
| Yes | 215 | 58.9 % |
| No | 150 | 41.1 % |
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