Brett

Phillips

The 31-year-old latched on with the Yankees on a minor league pact in July of 2024 in an attempt to switch to pitching. He wound up appearing in just one game where he allowed five runs on two hits, two walks and a hit batsmen without recording an out. He then pitched three innings in the independent American Association in 2025 where he allowed 11 runs on 10 hits in just three innings. Phillips finishes his big league career slashing .187/.272/.347 with 31 homers, 99 RBI and 39 stolen bases in 971 plate appearances over seven big league seasons with the Brewers, Royals, Rays, Orioles and Angels.

So this is a fun one. Phillips has spent his career as an outfielder, but after being release by the White Sox in May, the 30-year-old has been training as a pitcher and hit 97 mph in an NBC tournament Monday. The right-hander will report to Tampa before being assigned to a minor-league affiliate. There’s a chance we could see him pitching for the New York bullpen before the end of the season. Baseball is weird.

Phillips has really struggled in Triple-A, as the 29-year-old went just 5-for-57 (.120) with a .508 OPS. His ability to help with the glove could see interest on the free-agent market, but Phillips is very likely looking at another minor-league contract again.

The former Rays and Angels outfielder remains a fan-favorite and one of the better defensive outfielders in the game. However, he has struggled with the bat, hitting .175/.268/.333 with three homers, six RBI, three stolen bases and a 36/8 K/BB ratio over 71 plate appearances with Los Angeles during the 2023 season. He figures to serve as the fourth outfielder in Chicago, acting as a late-game defensive replacement and pinch runner as well.

The Angels sent the 29-year-old outfielder outright to Triple-A Salt Lake, but rather than accepting that assignment he’ll head back to the open market instead. The defensive specialist hit just .175/.268/.333 with three homers, six RBI, three stolen bases and a 36/8 K/BB ratio over 71 plate appearances with the Halos during the 2023 season.

Phillips has two homers in his last five games. He’s likely to see a reduced role if Jo Adell and Mike Trout are able to return to the Angels outfield, but he has a solid .237/.356/.395 line in 45 plate appearances to date.

Moniak will miss his fourth game in a row due to tightness in his back. The good news is that the Angels haven’t added him to the injured list, but it sounds like the 25-year-old could miss the start of the Mariners series, which begins on Monday. Brett Phillips will get another start in center field and will bat eighth in his absence.

Phillips could again find himself on the outside looking in after Mickey Moniak returns and Jo Adell comes off the IL, but he’s started four straight games in a row now and gone 4-for-13. He’s had as many at-bats in four days as he did while spending the first seven weeks of the season as a reserve for the Angels.

Moniak was scratched from Thursday’s lineup due to tightness in his back and he’ll be held out of the lineup on Friday as well as a precautionary measure. The good news — at least as of now — is that he has yet to be placed on the injured list, so it’s still being treated as a day-to-day situation. Brett Phillips will start in his place in center field and bat eighth for the Halos against Logan Allen and the Guardians on Friday night in Los Angeles.

Moniak has dealt with back issues throughout the last few weeks, so the Angels aren’t going to take any chances here. It’ll be Brett Phillips taking over in center field.