The Phillies added a potential piece to their bullpen mix Wednesday, acquiring Yoniel Curet in a trade with Tampa Bay.
Curet, who turned 23 last month, had been designated for assignment. The Phillies shipped minor leaguer Tommy McCollum in the other direction.
Curet is a 6-2, 250-pound righty. He signed with Tampa at age 18, rising as high as Triple A, mostly as a starter.
He posted a 6.03 ERA in eight games, including seven starts, covering 31.1 innings last year. He walked 26 and struck out 35 for a WHIP just under 2.
He was better in Double A, with a 1.45 ERA in five starts. He made 14 starts and 16 appearances across all levels in 2025.
He can be a power pitcher — he struck out 144 in 104 innings in 2023 and 159 in 119 innings in 2024 — especially if he transitions to the bullpen.
He had been ranked the 22nd best prospect in the Rays system, per MLB.com. He joins the Phillies’ 40-man roster, which stands at 35 players.
McCollum was an undrafted free agent in 2021.
The 26-year-old righty out of Wingate reached Triple A for three games in 2025. He posted a 3.88 ERA in 47 appearances and 55.2 innings across three levels in 2025, including 37 games with a 4.20 ERA and nine saves with Double-A Reading.