Former Phillies reliever reportedly signed with NPB’s BayStars to replace Trevor Bauer originally appeared on The Sporting News. Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
The Philadelphia Phillies may be losing some key free agents this offseason, but as of the first few days of December, no one has left the team for good.
advertise
However, former Phillies reliever Jose Ruiz did make a free-agent decision, which has implications for former Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer.
According to Phillies Tailgate, Ruiz will sign with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars to take Ball’s spot on the roster for the upcoming 2026 season.
Former Phillies pitcher Jose Ruiz reportedly to replace Trevor Bauer on BayStars roster
“NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball)’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars have signed former Phillies reliever Jose Ruiz for the 2026 season,” Phillies Tailgate reported on Twitter/X. “Jose Ruiz replaces Trevor Bauer on the BayStars roster.”
advertise
Ruiz, 31, spends the 2025 season with the Phillies and Atlanta Braves. In 16 games with Philadelphia, he had an 8.16 ERA and a -0.06 bWAR. In Atlanta, Ruiz had a 13.50 ERA in two games.
Ruiz performed well for the Phillies in 2024, pitching to a 3.71 ERA and 0.5 bWAR in 52 games, with 52 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched. But he had a tough 2025 season and now he’s heading overseas to join NPB.
more: Phillies ‘more likely than ever’ to trade disgruntled All-Star for $100M
The former Phillies reliever is set to join the BayStars roster and will reportedly take over Ball’s roster spot. The former Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland guard star Cy Young has been playing outside the United States since 2023.
advertise
In 2025, he had a 4.51 ERA in 21 starts with the BayStars, the worst of any pitcher in the Japan Central League who pitched 50 or more innings.
Ruiz will reportedly earn a spot on the BayStars roster, with the former Phillies reliever moving overseas to join NPB after tough seasons with the Phillies and Braves in 2025.
