Philadelphia Phillies have seen their minor-league pitching depth take a hit after right-hander Lou Trivino opted out of his contract and entered free agency, quickly signing with the Baltimore Orioles shortly after.
Trivino originally joined the Phillies last August on a minor-league deal after being released by the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, and he performed well in limited action, posting a 2.00 ERA over 10 appearances.
He later re-signed with Philadelphia on another minor-league contract but struggled during spring training, allowing eight runs in nine innings and failing to make the Opening Day roster.
The opt-out clause in his deal was exercised on May 1, ending his second stint with the organization.
For Trivino, it marked the conclusion of a brief homecoming, as the Pennsylvania native and Slippery Rock University product had also become a fan favorite moment last season after reconnecting with a former teacher on the field.
Before Philadelphia, Trivino had a journeyman MLB career with stops in Oakland, San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles, with his most productive stretch coming with the Athletics, where he recorded 36 saves, including a career-best 22 in 2021.
Over his career, he owns a 3.87 ERA with 336 strikeouts across 332 appearances.
His departure comes as the Phillies’ bullpen has faced inconsistency this season, carrying a 4.19 ERA through the first month-plus of play.
While closer Jhoan Duran has spent time on the injured list and other relievers have struggled, Philadelphia ultimately chose to move forward with other internal options rather than keep Trivino on the roster, which likely contributed to his decision to explore opportunities elsewhere.
With bullpen help always in demand across MLB, Trivino quickly landing with Baltimore was a predictable next step in his career.
