Guardians Acquire Right-Handed Pitcher Ryan Degges from Phillies
The Cleveland Guardians continued to add pitching depth to their farm system on Friday, acquiring right-handed pitcher Ryan Degges from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for $250,000 in international bonus pool money.
The move gives Cleveland a young arm with starting experience in the minor leagues, while Philadelphia gains additional flexibility on the international market.
Former Phillies Draft Pick Changes Organizations
Degges was selected by the Phillies in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of UNC Charlotte. Since entering professional baseball, the 23-year-old has spent his entire career in Philadelphia’s farm system, working primarily as a starting pitcher.
The right-hander showed enough promise to reach High-A Jersey Shore to begin the 2026 season, where he was expected to continue his development as part of the BlueClaws’ rotation.
Injury Interrupted 2026 Campaign
Degges made seven appearances, including five starts, for Jersey Shore this season. He compiled an 0-2 record with a 4.79 ERA before his progress was interrupted by a right oblique strain that landed him on the 7-day injured list.
The injury forced Degges to miss valuable development time during the middle portion of the season, but he has since returned to game action as part of a rehabilitation assignment.
Rehab Assignment Underway in Clearwater
Since June 27, Degges has been pitching for Class A Clearwater while working his way back to full health. In two rehab starts, he has allowed four earned runs over four innings as he gradually builds up his workload.
The Guardians will likely continue monitoring his recovery process before determining the next step in his development following the trade.
Career Numbers and Future Outlook
Over the course of his professional career, Degges has appeared in 31 games, including 25 starts. He owns a 3-5 record with a 4.26 ERA, demonstrating experience as a starter while continuing to refine his repertoire.
For Cleveland, the acquisition represents a relatively low-cost opportunity to add another pitching prospect to the organization.
While Degges is still developing and working his way back from injury, the Guardians will hope a change of scenery and their player-development system can help unlock further growth as he advances through the minor leagues.
