The Philadelphia Phillies have wasted little time making their presence felt this offseason, signaling clearly that the organization is not satisfied with how the last two years have ended.
Despite winning the National League East in back-to-back seasons, Philadelphia’s October results have been deeply disappointing. The Phillies have managed just one total playoff victory across those two postseason appearances, an outcome that has intensified pressure on the front office to make meaningful adjustments rather than relying on continuity alone. With a roster built to contend for a championship, simply bringing back the same group was never going to be enough.
That mindset has shaped the team’s approach this winter. While reuniting with designated hitter Kyle Schwarber stands out as the headline move so far, the Phillies have also taken steps to tweak the roster in less obvious but potentially impactful ways. One of the more notable changes came Monday, when the club agreed to terms with two-time All-Star outfielder Adolis García, a signing that reflects Philadelphia’s desire to add power, experience, and postseason pedigree to its lineup.
Beyond the splashier transactions, the Phillies have quietly worked to bolster their organizational depth. These smaller moves may not dominate headlines, but they often play a crucial role in a long season, particularly when injuries or underperformance test a team’s depth. One such move surfaced recently when Philadelphia signed right-handed pitcher Lenny Torres Jr. to a minor league contract.
The transaction was first reported by MiLB Central, which noted Torres’ impressive strikeout totals despite his lack of major-league experience. Over the course of his minor league career, Torres has accumulated 300 strikeouts across 257.1 innings, a sign that his raw stuff has allowed him to miss bats consistently, even if his overall results have been uneven.
Torres, who has yet to appear in the majors, spent the most recent portion of his professional career in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization. However, his time there came to an end in November, when he elected free agency and officially cut ties with the club. Cincinnati emerged as one of the National League’s more intriguing teams last season, pushing its way into the playoff picture with a young, energetic roster. The Reds’ pitching depth, in particular, proved to be one of their strengths, which may help explain why Torres never received an opportunity to move up to the big leagues.
Statistically, Torres’ performance in 2024 did little to demand a promotion. Splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A, he appeared in 49 games and finished the season with a 5.88 ERA. He struck out 52 batters while allowing 32 earned runs, numbers that suggest flashes of effectiveness but also a lack of consistency. For a pitcher trying to break through at the highest level, those inconsistencies can be costly, especially in an organization with limited roster flexibility and plenty of internal competition.
Beyond the numbers, Torres has acknowledged the mental toll that comes with life in the minor leagues. In an interview with his hometown publication, The Highlands Current, he spoke candidly about the uncertainty that defines a minor leaguer’s career.
“It’s nerve-wracking,” Torres said in comments reported by Ben Leeds. “Anything can happen — I could get called up, I could get released, I could get traded. But I mean, we’re right there.”
Those remarks highlight the delicate balance many minor league players must navigate. Every outing carries weight, and every mistake can feel magnified. For pitchers especially, the margin for error is razor thin, and the pressure to perform while knowing your future is never guaranteed can be overwhelming.
Now, Torres finds himself in a familiar but renewed position with the Phillies. He remains in the minors, still fighting for stability and opportunity, but he does so within a new organization that may offer a clearer path to the majors if he can put together sustained success. Philadelphia’s bullpen, while talented, is not without question marks, and that reality could create an opening for someone like Torres if he takes a step forward.
As a right-handed pitcher, Torres adds a different look to a bullpen mix that could use more balance and reliability. The Phillies currently feature right-handed middle relief options such as Orion Kerkering and Taijuan Walker, but neither situation is completely settled. Walker would almost certainly prefer to reclaim a role in the starting rotation, where he has historically been most comfortable, while Kerkering is coming off a painful postseason moment, having suffered a blown outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers that loomed large in Philadelphia’s playoff exit.
Those uncertainties mean the bullpen could be more fluid than it appears on paper. While Torres is far from a lock to contribute at the major-league level, the opportunity exists if he can demonstrate improved command, consistency, and composure within the Phillies’ farm system. Relief pitching is notoriously volatile, and teams often rely on unheralded arms to stabilize the middle innings over the course of a season.
For Torres, the key will be translating his strikeout ability into more efficient and dependable performances. Reducing walks, limiting hard contact, and avoiding big innings would go a long way toward improving his overall profile. If he can do that, he may position himself as a viable depth option should the Phillies need reinforcements during the grind of a 162-game schedule.
From the organization’s perspective, this signing represents a low-risk move with potential upside. Minor league contracts rarely draw attention, but they can pay dividends if a player clicks in a new environment. Sometimes a change of scenery, coaching staff, or development philosophy is enough to unlock something that previously remained inconsistent.
As the Phillies continue reshaping their roster this offseason, the message is clear: the front office is intent on finding improvements at every level of the organization. Whether through headline-grabbing acquisitions or quieter depth signings, Philadelphia is casting a wide net in hopes of assembling a roster capable of translating regular-season success into a deeper postseason run.
For Lenny Torres Jr., the journey remains uncertain, but it is far from over. If he can quiet the nerves he spoke about so openly and take a meaningful step forward in his performance, he may yet find himself pitching in meaningful games at the major-league level. And for the Phillies, that possibility alone makes this a worthwhile gamble as they prepare for another season with championship aspirations.
