The Phillies are still staring at a long to-do list this offseason, but they quietly checked off a couple of useful boxes by claiming infielders Brett Harris and Shay Whitcomb off waivers from the San Francisco Giants.
That kind of move matters for a club with plenty of roster questions still hanging over it. Philadelphia still needs help in the outfield, a catcher to work with J.T.
Realmuto, starting pitching depth and a left-handed setup man to help bridge the gap to their star closer, Jhoan Duran. Infield depth could also become an issue, especially with Alec Bohm, Luis Arraez and Edmundo Sosa all headed for free agency.
The Phillies already had plenty of turnover coming. Along with the seven players who reached free agency on the Big League roster, the organization had 21 more players set to hit minor league free agency.
That’s where the Giants’ roster squeeze came in. With the injured list disappearing, San Francisco was projected to carry 56 players on its 40-man roster, forcing a wave of moves. Harris and Whitcomb were among the infielders exposed, and Philadelphia moved in to grab both.
Harris is the less proven of the two at the Major League level, but his Triple-A track record gives him some appeal. Over the last three seasons, he has logged 895 plate appearances, plus a few rehab stints at the Complex League, and hit .286/.388/.469. He has also posted solid plate discipline numbers, with a 12.5% walk rate and an 18.1% strikeout rate, along with a 109 wRC+.
There is a catch, though: Harris is out of options. That makes his path to sticking on the roster tougher, and if the Phillies need room later, he could be one of the names squeezed out. Still, his ability to handle all four infield spots as a pro gives him some value, and he could serve as a low-cost alternative to Sosa if he isn’t brought back.
Whitcomb looks like the easier fit to keep around because he does have an option remaining. He was claimed by the Giants on waivers from the Houston Astros near the end of the 2026 season, and while he hasn’t yet solved Major League pitching, the sample is still small at 89 games.
At Triple-A in 2024 and 2025, Whitcomb put together a strong case for another look. He produced a 128 wRC+, hit 50 home runs and stole 42 bases, all while drawing walks at an 11.1% clip. His .280/.369/.520 line was excellent.
For the Phillies, both claims are the kind of low-risk bets that make sense this time of year. They’re free fliers on players who have done damage at the highest minor league level, even if the big leagues have not yet cooperated.
At minimum, Philadelphia has added some more infield insurance to the system in case the need shows up later.
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