(Image Source – Getty Images) Jon Heyman reports that the Phillies have inked a deal with right-handed pitcher Bryse Wilson. It’s not yet known if this is a major league or minor league contract, but with multiple open spots on the 40-man roster, Philadelphia wouldn’t have to make any moves if it’s a big league deal.Wilson, who will be 28 in December, is known mostly for the wrong reasons. Over the course of eight seasons, he has played for the Braves, Pirates, Brewers, and White Sox, but never really settled in. In 163 career games, with 57 of those being starts, Wilson has a 4.82 ERA over 461 innings. At this stage, his profile is pretty clear. He doesn’t strike out many batters, with a career strikeout rate of only 16.6 percent. Although he does a good job of limiting walks, that advantage is negated by the frequent hard hits and balls that are consistently put in play.
Bryse Wilson struggled to miss bats during his 2025 season with the Chicago White Sox
Wilson’s 2025 season with the Chicago White Sox was one of the toughest times in his career, showcasing his struggles with command and managing contact. After inking a one-year, $1.05 million contract with the rebuilding White Sox during the offseason, Wilson was optimistic that playing for a non-contending team would help him find a steady role.Instead, his performance really went downhill. Over 20 appearances (including starts), Wilson ended up with a 6.65 ERA in 47.1 innings pitched, plus a 1.817 WHIP. He allowed hitters to bat .295 against him, and his strikeout rate was so low that it didn’t produce any swing-and-miss chances. The White Sox designated him for assignment twice during the season, and he cleared waivers without any claims both times—this was a clear sign of his falling trade value, even on a last-place team.RotoWire called it “one of his worst years in the majors,” showing the 6.65 ERA and 1.82 WHIP over 47.1 innings.CBS Sports shared the same stats in their article, pointing out the right-hander’s difficulties in controlling baserunners and avoiding hard hits.His stint in the minors showed slight improvement but not much to get excited about. While playing Triple-A with the Charlotte Knights, Wilson pitched 48.2 innings, posting a 4.25 ERA, a 20.5% strikeout rate, a 5.5% walk rate, and a 53.8% ground-ball rate. Although these stats indicated better control and a bit more ability to get swings and misses compared to his time in the majors, they didn’t hint at any significant breakout potential.The White Sox’s terrible 2025 season, where they ended with the worst record in MLB, didn’t do Wilson any favors. The team shuffled through pitchers because of injuries and inconsistency, but Wilson’s frequent DFA situations indicated a lack of confidence in his performance.
The Philadelphia Phillies view Bryse Wilson as swingman depth behind Zack Wheeler
The Phillies see Wilson mainly as backup depth, probably in a swingman role that mixes long relief with some starts. This fits with the team’s current rotation: Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Taijuan Walker.Issues start popping up early in 2026. Wheeler is on the mend from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome and might kick off the season on the injured list. Prospect Andrew Painter, who had a 5.40 ERA in Triple-A last year, is seen as the long-term fix but might need a bit more experience before stepping into a full-time position. If Painter is delayed or if another starter struggles, Wilson could step in temporarily before moving to the bullpen.Rotowire described Wilson as a “multi-inning reliever,” noting he “could face competition for a spot on the Opening Day roster during spring training.” CBS Sports agreed, describing the same potential usage.A major point to consider: Wilson has run out of minor league options, which means he can’t be sent down to Triple-A without going through waivers again. Since he has under five years of service time, he would qualify for arbitration after 2026 if he stays on the 40-man roster, giving the Phillies a chance for cost-effective potential if he bounces back.ThatBallsOuttaHere.com framed the signing as a “reclamation project,” highlighting Wilson’s strong playoff showing against Philadelphia in 2021 as evidence of his untapped potential. For a Phillies squad aiming to be competitive in the challenging NL East, Wilson’s signing serves as low-risk insurance, an inexpensive depth option that could be useful in a tight spot or might fade away by March. As Heyman pointed out in his initial report, the structure of the deal helps maintain realistic expectations while fulfilling immediate requirements.Also Read: Kansas City Royals has signed Lane Thomas after the injury that kept him off the field for 123 game