The Philadelphia Phillies made a roster move ahead of their Saturday matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers, parting ways with veteran reliever Zach Pop.
To create room on the 40-man roster, the Phillies reinstated right-hander Max Lazar from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. As part of the corresponding transaction, Pop was activated from the 15-day injured list and immediately designated for assignment.
Pop joined Philadelphia before the 2026 season after signing with the club in December. During his brief time with the Phillies, he appeared in seven games and posted a 3.68 ERA.
The 29-year-old reliever has spent parts of six major league seasons with several organizations, including the Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, Seattle Mariners, and New York Mets. Across 170 career appearances, Pop has compiled an 8-6 record with a 4.83 ERA.
Now designated for assignment, Pop’s future remains uncertain. Another team could claim him to bolster its bullpen, or he could remain within the Phillies organization if he clears waivers and is retained.
Philadelphia entered Saturday’s contest with a 29-28 record, good for second place in the National League East. The club has been inconsistent recently, going 5-5 over its last ten games. After finishing its series against the Dodgers, the Phillies will head home for a series against the San Diego Padres.
The Phillies are also looking to rebound from last year’s postseason disappointment, when they were eliminated by the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.
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