The Philadelphia Phillies have completed their 40-man roster by acquiring veteran reliever Chase Shugart from the Pittsburgh Pirates, swapping him for 18-year-old infield prospect Francisco Loreto, the club announced Tuesday.
At a Glance
- The Phillies acquired RHP Chase Shugart from the Pirates for minor-league IF Francisco Loreto
- Shugart, 29, posted a 3.40 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 45 innings of relief for Pittsburgh in 2025
- The move fills the Phillies’ 40-man roster ahead of spring training
- Why it matters: Philadelphia adds an experienced right-handed reliever who limited right-handed hitters to a .618 OPS last season
Shugart, a Texas native originally drafted by Boston in the 12th round of the 2018 draft out of the University of Texas, brings 11 major-league appearances to Philadelphia. After making his debut with the Red Sox, he was designated for assignment last January and later caught on with Pittsburgh.
Pitching Profile
The 5-foot-11 right-hander works primarily off a five-pitch mix, leaning heavily on:
- A sweeping slider
- A cutter
- A sinking fastball that averages 95 mph
While Shugart did not accumulate enough innings to qualify for Statcast leaderboards, his batted-ball data shows above-average suppression of hard contact, reflected in a strong hard-hit profile.
Splits from the 2025 season highlight his effectiveness against same-sided hitters:
| Split | OPS Allowed |
|---|---|
| vs RHB | .618 |
| vs LHB | Data not provided |
| w/ RISP | .631 |
Shugart has one minor-league option remaining, giving the Phillies flexibility as they evaluate bullpen roles during spring training.
Prospect Cost
In exchange, Philadelphia parted with Francisco Loreto, an 18-year-old Venezuelan signee from early 2024. Loreto has spent parts of two seasons in the Florida Complex League, compiling a .234/.341/.371 slash line across 77 professional games. MLB.com did not rank him among the organization’s top 30 prospects.
Roster Impact
The transaction caps a busy week for president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, who addressed reporters at the MLB Winter Meetings on Wednesday after Washington selected right-hander Griff McGarry from the Phillies in the Rule 5 Draft. With the 40-man roster now full, future additions will require corresponding moves.
Key Takeaways
- Shugart immediately upgrades Philadelphia’s right-handed relief depth
- His ability to keep the ball in the park and handle right-handed hitters addresses a need
- The cost was minimal: an 18-year-old prospect yet to reach full-season ball
- One option year left means the Phillies can shuttle him between Triple-A and the majors as roster needs fluctuate
The club has not announced a timeline for when Shugart will report to spring training, but his acquisition signals the front office’s intent to fortify the bullpen after last year’s late-season struggles.
