Phillies make quiet but controversial roster move amid blowout loss to Blue Jays

On a day when the scoreboard told a painful story in Toronto, the Philadelphia Phillies made a far more subtle move that still raised eyebrows across Major League Baseball. Hours after a 9-1 loss to the Blue Jays, Philadelphia adjusted its roster by parting ways with a little-known infielder—only to re-sign him almost immediately.

This wouldn’t normally generate headlines. But the player in question is Jose Rodriguez, a 24-year-old whose MLB career has been stalled by a year-long suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy. The transaction marked both his reinstatement and his release in the same breath—a rare procedural twist for a player who hasn’t logged a single at-bat in the majors.

Rodriguez, who once appeared in a game for the Chicago White Sox without recording a plate appearance, is now headed to Low-A Clearwater. The decision to non-tender him rather than keep him on the 40-man roster hints at broader strategic considerations inside the Phillies’ front office.

Why did the Phillies cut then re-signed Jose Rodriguez?

According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, Philadelphia technically non-tendered Rodriguez after reinstating him from the restricted list. Though they could have kept him on the 40-man roster and simply optioned him to the minors, the front office chose to clear the spot, likely with future pitching depth in mind.

“Infielder Jose Rodriguez (gambling suspension) was reinstated from the ineligible list today and non-tendered by Phillies. They were at 39 on 40-man roster but might need that spot for a pitcher this weekend.”Gelb reported.

Rodriguez had been enjoying a solid 2023 season at Double-A before his suspension, slashing .265 with four homers, 18 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases in 38 games.

Notably, Rodriguez was one of five players suspended last June for gambling violations, alongside Padres pitcher Jay Groome, Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly, and Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Saalfrank. Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano was handed a lifetime ban—the harshest punishment in MLB’s modern history for such offenses.

What’s next for Rodriguez and the Phillies?

Rodriguez path back to the majors is unclear, but the Phillies clearly saw some value in retaining his rights. Still, the optics of bringing back a player with a recent gambling suspension—even to a minor-league affiliate—will not go unnoticed, especially in an era of heightened league scrutiny over integrity issues.

Meanwhile, after the blowout loss in Toronto, the Phillies dropped to 37-25. With Bryce Harper and company now returning home to face the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates (23-39), the focus will shift quickly back to performance—but front office decisions like this one continue to suggest long-term planning is firmly in play.