Phillies Acquire Yoniel Curet to Boost Outfield Depth

The Philadelphia Phillies just made a bold move, trading for right-handed pitcher Yoniel Curet from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for reliever Tommy McCollum. It’s a swap of two power arms with control issues, but Curet comes with more upside and youth, and he was recently ranked among baseball’s top prospects.

Phillies Bet on Upside with Yoniel Curet

Here’s the gist: the Phillies are taking a chance on a former top-100 caliber prospect whose value dropped after a shoulder problem and some nagging command issues. They’re adding a high-strikeout pitcher to a 40-man roster that, frankly, could use a little more excitement.

From Rays DFA to Phillies Project

Curet’s path to Philly started when the Rays designated him for assignment to make room for outfielder Cedric Mullins. Once a player gets DFA’d, teams have just a short window to swing a trade before he hits waivers—and the Phillies didn’t hesitate.

The 23-year-old righty originally signed with Tampa Bay as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic. Even with his prospect buzz, he hadn’t reached Double-A by the end of 2023, which says a lot about how cautiously the Rays were handling his development.

Curet’s Profile: Electric Stuff, Shaky Control

When it comes to pure stuff, Curet has almost everything teams want: he misses bats, he’s young, and he’s kept runs off the board. The big question—maybe the only question—is whether he’ll ever find the strike zone often enough to make it all work.

Dominant Strikeout Numbers in the Minors

From 2021 to 2023, Curet stood out as one of the most fascinating arms in Tampa’s system. Over 197 innings, he put up:

The ERA and strikeouts jump off the page; the walks, not so much. Still, analyst Eric Longenhagen ranked him as the 61st-best prospect in baseball heading into 2025, which is pretty remarkable for someone who hasn’t seen Double-A yet.

Step Forward in 2024, Setback in 2025

Curet put together another strong year in 2024. Over 119 innings, he managed a 2.95 ERA and trimmed his walk rate to 11.9%.

That improvement made some folks believe he could stick as a starter instead of moving to the bullpen. Then 2025 rolled around and things got a little bumpy. An early shoulder injury slowed him down, and while his 3.90 ERA was fine, his strikeout rate dropped to 25.5%.

That’s not a disaster, but for a pitcher who lives on strikeouts, any dip is a little concerning—especially with health questions in the mix.

Why the Rays Moved On – and Why the Phillies Pounced

The Rays cut Curet from their 40-man roster mainly because of a roster crunch. Mullins was coming in, and Tampa’s system is always crowded. They probably hoped Curet’s injury and control issues would scare teams off enough to sneak him through waivers, but Philly swooped in before that could happen.

Philadelphia’s Roster Context

For the Phillies, Curet is a low-cost lottery ticket with real upside. Adding him brings their roster to 35 players, so they still have room to maneuver while taking a shot on a pitcher who used to have national buzz.

Now it’s up to Philadelphia’s player development staff to do what Tampa couldn’t: help Curet find the zone without losing his nasty stuff. If his shoulder holds up and the walks keep trending down, maybe he’s a mid-rotation starter. Or maybe he’s a late-inning arm. Either way, it’s an intriguing bet.

The Other Side of the Trade: Tommy McCollum to Tampa Bay

Heading to the Rays is Tommy McCollum, a 27-year-old righty reliever who’s been in the Phillies’ system since 2021. Like Curet, McCollum’s game is all about strikeouts and walks.

Rays Take a Shot on a Late-Blooming Reliever

McCollum racks up strikeouts, so he’s always been an interesting bullpen option. But his control has been a real hurdle. He was left unprotected in the Rule 5 draft and nobody picked him, which says teams saw him as more of a project than a sure thing.

After the Rule 5 draft wrapped up, Tampa Bay traded for him instead of risking a 26-man roster spot. The Rays have a knack for getting the most out of raw relievers, and McCollum fits right into that mold.

What This Trade Means Going Forward

For Philadelphia, this is a classic upside play. They’re trading a nearly big-league-ready, but limited, reliever for a much younger arm with more potential as a starter.

Tampa Bay, on the other hand, wants certainty and a quicker impact. They’re swapping a former top prospect who has health and command questions for an older reliever who could help them sooner.

 
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