Phillies and Blue Jays continue to sign each others former relievers

The Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies will forever be linked thanks to their famous World Series clash back in 1993. However, almost three decades later, they appear to have grown a fondness of the other team’s players in recent years. In particular, both the Blue Jays and Phillies have been adding each others’ former relievers to their contending squad.

Last year, it all started in free agency when Toronto recruited Jeff Hoffman to the club while the Phillies grabbed Jordan Romano in the so-called “de-facto” closer swap between the two teams. Then came the Blue Jays deadline acquisition of Seranthony Domínguez to bolster their relief corps down the stretch.

Not to be outdone, the Phillies countered once again by signing Zach Pop earlier this week. While the Blue Jays had added Michael Plassmeyer a few weeks before that. But before the holiday week is even over, Philadelphia struck again by inking former Jays reliever Genesis Cabrera to a minor league deal, as the signing spree continues endlessly.

Phillies and Blue Jays continue to sign each others former relievers endlessly

Cabrera was at one point a key addition to the Blue Jays bullpen back in 2023 after he was acquired from the St Louis Cardinals prior to the trade deadline in exchange for minor league catcher Sammy Hernandez. The 29-year-old reliever was a revelation for Toronto, posting a 2.66 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, along with 20 strikeouts in 23.2 innings pitched over 29 relief appearances down the stretch that year, helping the club to another postseason berth.

However, Cabrera would endure inconsistencies with his control and command in 2024, ultimately spelling an end to his tenure with the Blue Jays upon the conclusion of the regular season. The left-handed reliever would struggle to find his footing in 2025, and ended up spending time with four different organizations in the Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Phillies are hoping that Cabrera can recapture the fine form that he displayed with the Blue Jays during the 2023 season and potentially help as valuable bullpen depth from the left side after the departure of veteran Matt Strahm as a result of his recent trade to the Kansas City Royals. 

However, without question the Blue Jays have been winning the recruiting battle with the Phillies so far, with Hoffman and Domínguez playing key roles in the Blue Jays’ postseason run to the World Series this past season. As for the former Jays landing in Philadelphia, Romano totally flamed out in his stint with the Phillies, while Pop and Cabrera is yet to be determined.