RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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SportsMoney Phillies’ Veteran Cuts Ties With Team After Trade Deadline Move By Peter Chawaga ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Peter Chawaga is a writer and editor covering Major League Baseball. Follow Author Aug 05, 2026, 06:55pm EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary The Philadelphia Phillies, after acquiring Luis Arraez, Caleb Kilian, and Brooks Raley at the trade deadline, faced a roster crunch. This led to veteran reliever Lou Trivino being designated for assignment. Trivino, who recently returned from the injured list, opted for free agency rather than accepting a Triple-A assignment after clearing waivers. His departure concludes a brief, winding stint with the Phillies this season, following a minor league deal, a short period with the Orioles, and then re-signing with Philadelphia. Despite his past success as a dependable late-inning reliever with the Oakland Athletics, injuries and declining velocity have hampered his recent performance, allowing 10 earned runs in six major league innings this year. Trivino is now seeking another opportunity with a new team, leveraging his extensive experience.
The Philadelphia Phillies might not have made every acquisition that fans were hoping for at the trade deadline, but they did add multiple veterans in hopes of strengthening a roster already built around several veteran stars. As expected, those additions also created a roster crunch.
Shortly after the Phillies acquired Luis Arraez, Caleb Kilian and Brooks Raley, several fringe roster decisions began to take shape as the organization sorted through its bullpen depth. And now one veteran reliever has officially cut ties with the team after he was moved off the big-league roster.
On Monday, the Phillies designated catcher Payton Henry and relievers Nolan Hoffman and Lou Trivino for assignment to make room for their trio of trade deadline additions. On Wednesday, the official transaction log indicated that Trivino had cleared waivers and selected free agency rather than accept an assignment to Triple-A.
The move came shortly after Trivino returned from the injured list for the organization.
“Phillies activated RHP Lou Trivino from the 10-day injured list (and then) designated him for assignment,” NBC Sports’ Matthew Pouliot reported earlier this week . “Trivino had been on the IL since July 8 with a back issue. He’s healthy again now, having pitched two scoreless innings in Triple-A on a rehab assignment, but the Phillies declined to make room for him in their bullpen.”
Rather than accept an outright assignment back to the minors, Trivino exercised his right to become a free agent and immediately re-entered the open market.
Trivino's departure concludes what proved to be a relatively short chapter in his winding big-league career, which included multiple stints with the Phillies during the past year.
Trivino signed a minor league deal with the Phillies in the offseason, but opted out of that and joined the Baltimore Orioles for a very brief stint. After he was designated for assignment by the Orioles, he elected free agency and re-signed with the Phillies.
The 34-year-old enjoyed his best years on the mound with the Oakland Athletics from 2018 through 2021, when he established himself as a dependable late-inning reliever. However, injuries, a Tommy John surgery and declining velocity have made it difficult for him to recapture that form.
Trivino struggled across limited appearances with both Baltimore and Philadelphia this season, allowing 10 earned runs over six major league innings. Even after successfully completing a rehab assignment, the Phillies opted to prioritize other bullpen options following their deadline additions.
Now back on the open market, Trivino will look for another opportunity with a contender in need of experienced relief depth. Given his track record and extensive major league experience, it would not be surprising if another organization gives the veteran reliever another chance. And, given how this season has gone so far, it wouldn’t be too surprising if he ends up back on the Phillies.
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