Not all projections come true in the Rule 5 draft, but it looked like the Phillies might lose Griff McGarry and were likely to select a RH reliever with their own pick. Both of those things came to pass. They also acquired a live armed potential reliever convert from the Rays in a trade after the draft.
Major League Phase
Washington select RHP Griff McGarry
For the second year in a row the Phillies did not protect their minor league pitcher of the year and another team selected them. McGarry has a plus fastball and cutter, and a sweeper that by metrics is plus plus. As a starting pitcher last year he showed poor command, which was an improvement from abysmal the previous year. The catch is that he was a pitch inefficient 4-5 inning starting pitcher and that probably is both his best role going forward and one that teams are unlikely to give him. The likely path is the one the Phillies have tried before which is to put him in the bullpen and care less about command. That has not worked so far, and each time has left him broken for a period of time. The Nationals should just let him start and deal with his struggled, but it is likely he flames out as a reliever and is offered back.
Phillies select RHP Zach McCambley from Miami
McCambley was a 3rd round pick in 2020 by the Marlins, who moved to the bullpen in 2023, but has poor control in his first two years there. Between AA and AAA he had a 2.90 ERA in 2025 with 22 walks and 83 strikeouts. In AAA his fastball averaged about 94, and touched up to 97. The pitch has a little bit of cut, but doesn’t have great shape overall, and did not really miss bats. He already only throws it a touch under a quarter of the time. He has mixed in a couple of changeups, but mostly he throws a bunch of cutters and sweepers. This means he does have some heavier platoon splits, which may be an issue since the Phillies will likely want him to throw more than one inning if he makes the roster. McCambley profiles as a middle reliever and is not a lock to make the opening day roster, but should be in the mix with a chance.
Minor League Phase
Austin Murr, IF/OF selected from Tigers
Murr was a 6th round pick of the Tigers in 2021 and has logged 317 games for Western Michigan with a .722 OPS in his career. He was better this year, but was also 26. He gets on base and has moderate power while playing first base and corner outfield. He is a bench guy for Jersey Shore or Reading.
Evan Gates RHP selected from Giants
Gates will be 28 on opening day and was a NDFA signing by the Giants in 2021. He was great in AA in 2024, but struggled greatly in AAA. He returned to AA in 2025 and had a 3.23 ERA with 31 walks and 80 strikeouts in 69.2 innings pitched. From 2024 tracking data he throws a fastball, cutter, and curveball all with similar horizontal movement, but different vertical separations. His curve is more of a mid 80s slider with the cutter around 90 and a low 90s fastball. He looks like a weird look of a reliever.
Mariners select 1B Carson Taylor
Two years ago the Phillies selected Taylor as a catcher from the Dodgers in the minor league phase. Taylor had a good 2024 season, but had a season ending injury almost immediately in 2025. He is a first baseman and has now been passed on the AAA depth chart by Keaton Anthony and Felix Reyes, which is why he was available in the draft.
Yoniel Curet
Curet was designated for assignment by the Rays a few days and news of a potential trade broke prior to the draft, but had to wait until after the major league phase to be complete. That was because the Phillies traded RHP Tommy McCollum to the Rays for him and McCollum was Rule 5 eligible. Curet is entering his last option, which is why the Rays opted to move on. He missed about half of the 2025 season, and pitched masterfully in AA after his return before his control collapsed in AAA. His fastball sits 96 as a starter, touching up to 98. He has struggled to throw it for strikes. His slider is more of a cutter, but isn’t quite as hard and sharp as a true cutter., His changeup might be his best pitch, but hitters did not chase it and he struggled to throw it for strikes. Curet just turned 23 so he has development runway in front of him, but the ticking option clock makes that shorter than it seems. The Phillies should move him to the bullpen and see if he can throw enough strikes to let the velocity play. He will likely slot right outside the top 10 of the Phillies prospect list.
Matt, is there a scenario where Curet is kept in the rotation? Beyond Painter, there aren’t really any other starters that could be ready in a pinch if there’s another injury in the rotation on top of Wheeler before he’s expected back from injury himself. This is assuming Painter doesn’t break camp as the 5th. I guess Cabrera could be in the mix there also, though he’s not pitched above AA. I would like to think if Curet has more than a 2 pitch mix, keeping him stretched out would be sensible. This is of course predicated on any additional moves made at the major league level. Somewhat related, I’d be all for bringing a guy like Beuhler back on low dollar contract as insurance.
As of now they are viewing him purely as a RP and that comes down to him only having the one option year left. I expect them to bring in another SP with MLB experience and then probably a AAA depth arm. The depth is thin as you said with just Cabrera and Alan Rangel behind the MLB guys right now.
Got it. I had forgotten about Rangel, and that he could handle a starting role if needed. Should be interesting to see the rest of the moves on the 25 & 40 but either way, its good to have a year to assess this kid. We need more homegrown BP arms!
I remember when there was so much HOPE for Painter/McGarry/Abel being the next wave of Phillies pitching.
Wishing the best for McGarry.
Seth Johnson and Michael Mercado are still on the club. I’m not saying they’re Cy Young, but they can start.
Mercado is back on a minor league deal and with no options remaining, Seth Johnson’s current only path is through the bullpen