Phillies Make Key Moves: Tim Mayza Re-signed; Carlos Mendoza Joins Coaching Staff
The Philadelphia Phillies have announced two important roster changes this Thursday, as confirmed by president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski. The team has re-signed left-handed reliever Tim Mayza to a one-year agreement and brought on Carlos Mendoza, former manager of the New York Mets, as their new third base and infield coach.
Tim Mayza’s Return
Tim Mayza made his major league debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017, quickly establishing himself in their bullpen before being released in July 2024. After brief stints with the Yankees and Pirates, Mayza joined the Phillies via waivers from Pittsburgh in August 2025. Although his initial tenure with the Phillies involved just 7 1/3 innings in the previous season, Mayza proved his worth this year after signing a minor league contract, securing a place in the Opening Day roster.
This season marked one of the most productive phases of Mayza’s career, as he pitched a personal-best 67 1/3 innings with a commendable 3.48 ERA. His performance included:
- A strikeout rate of 23.6%
- A walk rate of 6.6%
- 48.1% ground-ball percentage
Against various hitters, Mayza displayed impressive versatility, holding left-handed batters to a .271 weighted on-base average, while restricting right-handed hitters to a .302 wOBA. Historically, right-handed batters have posed a challenge for him, evident from his career .340 wOBA against them. Despite this, Mayza maintains a respectable overall 3.80 ERA across 385 2/3 innings in his major league career, bolstered by solid peripheral stats including a 3.35 SIERA and a 3.63 FIP.
Coaching Addition: Carlos Mendoza
The Phillies have also officially hired Carlos Mendoza as their new third base and infield coach, enhancing their coaching staff after his tenure with the Mets. Mendoza is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the Phillies, contributing to the development and strategy of the infielders.
Left-Handed Options in Relief
With the re-signing of Mayza, the Phillies are solidifying their bullpen, particularly in adding essential left-handed arms. Currently, the team lacks depth in left-handed relief options. Tanner Banks remains a candidate for the roster; however, he faced challenges this year with a forearm strain combined with a higher 6.19 ERA over 36 1/3 innings.
Compounding the situation, José Alvarado is approaching free agency after a disappointing 5.86 ERA this season in 58 1/3 innings. Additionally, Brooks Raley, acquired near the trade deadline, posted a more favorable 3.25 ERA but struggled towards the last month of the season, logging 10 hits and seven runs over just 3 2/3 innings in September. Consequently, Raley was excluded from the Phillies’ roster during their Wild Card series against the Braves.
With these recent moves, the Phillies will look to strengthen their roster in both player performance and coaching strategy for the upcoming season.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Phillies as they continue to prepare for the next season.
