Phillies Lose McGarry, Select McCambley in Rule 5 Draft

The Philadelphia Phillies left the Rule 5 Draft in Orlando with a mix of regret and opportunity. They lost one of their more intriguing arms in right-hander Griff McGarry but quickly pivoted by grabbing high-upside reliever Adam McCambley.

They also reshaped organizational depth with a pair of Minor League additions. This felt like a classic Rule 5 outcome—a reminder of how tight 40-man roster decisions get for a contender trying to balance the present and the future.

Phillies Lose Griff McGarry but Bet on Roster Flexibility

The headline loss for Philadelphia was Griff McGarry, a power right-hander with strikeout stuff. The Washington Nationals snapped him up with the third pick in the Major League phase.

The Phillies made a calculated decision not to protect McGarry by adding him to their 40-man roster, and the Nationals pounced. It’s a tough pill, but it’s the risk you run.

McGarry, 26, was a fifth-round pick out of the University of Virginia in 2021. He’s been on radars ever since for his ability to miss bats at an elite level.

In 2023, he posted a 3.44 ERA with 124 strikeouts over 83 2/3 innings. That ranked him among the Minor League leaders in strikeouts per nine innings.

What the Phillies Are Giving Up in McGarry

From a pure stuff standpoint, McGarry checks a lot of boxes. His fastball and breaking ball combination plays, and his strikeout rate alone makes him a tempting project for a rebuilding club like Washington.

But command and consistency have always been the flip side. Philadelphia clearly weighed his upside against his risk profile and the crunch on the 40-man roster.

On a team with postseason expectations and established pitching depth, they opted to expose him to the Rule 5 Draft. They knew another club might be willing to take the chance.

Adam McCambley: A New Relief Weapon for the Phillies

With the 12th pick in the Major League phase, the Phillies turned to upside of their own. They selected Adam McCambley from the Miami Marlins organization.

McCambley is also 26 and, like McGarry, is a former early-round pick—taken in the third round in 2020. Where McGarry leaves, McCambley arrives: another high-strikeout right-hander, but one who’s found traction lately by embracing a full-time relief role.

After transitioning from starting, McCambley posted a 2.90 ERA last season with 83 strikeouts in 62 innings. Crucially, he showed improved control with his walk rate trending in the right direction.

McCambley’s Pitch Mix and Fit in Philadelphia

McCambley’s arsenal gives the Phillies plenty to dream on in the bullpen. He works with a 92–94 mph fastball that plays up thanks to movement and spin.

He backs it with a full complement of secondary pitches:

The common thread here is spin and movement, traits that modern pitching development systems know how to maximize. The Phillies have already signaled their belief in his potential by adding McCambley to the 40-man roster as its 34th member.

That gives him a real shot to compete for a bullpen role. There’s some intrigue here, no doubt.

Minor League Phase: Quiet but Important Depth Additions

The Minor League phase of the Rule 5 Draft rarely grabs headlines. Still, it often shapes organizational depth, and Philadelphia was active here too.

The Phillies added outfielder Austin Murr from the Detroit Tigers and right-hander Evan Gates from the San Francisco Giants. They lost just one player, catcher Carson Taylor, to the Seattle Mariners.

Murr, 26, brings on-base skills and a disciplined approach at the plate. He posted a strong .280/.386/.451 slash line, showing both contact ability and some extra-base pop.

His profile suggests a hitter who grinds out at-bats and reaches base consistently. He could lengthen a lineup at the upper levels.

Evan Gates and the Rest of the Organizational Picture

On the mound, Gates offers another relief option with a history of missing bats. The 27-year-old right-hander has a 3.52 ERA with 307 strikeouts over 260 2/3 innings, almost all in relief.

That kind of track record suggests a reliable Minor League bullpen piece with the potential to help at the big league level if he keeps progressing. The Phillies’ only Minor League loss was Carson Taylor, a catcher who had already been selected previously from the Dodgers before landing in Seattle this time around.

Meanwhile, outfielder Felix Reyes, fresh off a standout season that included a batting title at Double-A Reading, will remain in the organization. That’s a quiet but important retention for a system that values power and production at the upper levels.

Balancing Present Contention with Future Upside

The Rule 5 Draft really highlighted where the Phillies stand right now. They’re a win-now club making tough choices on fringe 40-man guys, all while hunting for bullpen arms and depth with real upside.

Losing McGarry stings on paper. Still, adding McCambley, Murr, and Gates shows the front office trusts its own eye for talent and believes it can develop arms and bats that fit their window.

For Philadelphia, the Rule 5 Draft wasn’t just about moving names around. It felt like another shot to tweak a roster built to win, while keeping an eye on the next group of contributors lurking in the minors.

 
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