Phillies Sign Max Kranick To Minor League Deal

The Phillies are bringing in right-hander Max Kranick on a minor league deal, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. It’s a non-roster, split contract for the Covenant Sports Group client. The precise salary terms are not clear, though Kranick will presumably earn more than the minor league minimum for any time spent there. Sammon adds that the Phillies will give Kranick a chance to work as a starter. Kranick, 29, has pitched in parts of four major league seasons from 2021-26. He tossed 43 2/3 innings for the Pirates from 2021-22 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in June of the latter year. He spent 2023-24 recovering, then pitching at Triple-A for the Pirates and Mets’ affiliates. Resurfacing in the Majors in 2025, Kranick had a 3.65 earned run average in 37 innings for the Mets before undergoing flexor tendon surgery that July. Kranick joined the Nationals organization this past May while he wrapped up his recovery from surgery. He debuted for the team in July but delivered an unsightly 9.33 ERA in 17 appearances. Velocity wasn’t the problem, as Kranick averaged 95.4 mph on his four-seamer, nearly matching his 2025 velocity. Instead, the righty was far too wild on the mound. He surrendered 13 walks in just 18 1/3 innings pitched, and he walked more hitters (13.8%) than he struck out (11.7%). He allowed 27 hits in total, four of which were home runs. The minor league results have been better, but still not great. Kranick threw 16 2/3 innings across three levels of the Nationals’ system this year and had a 4.32 ERA, along with a so-so 21.1% strikeout rate. In his last full minor league season in 2024, he had a 3.57 ERA in 63 innings for the Mets’ top affiliate, though he coughed up 12 home runs and benefited from an 82.0% strand rate. Kranick was a full-time starter early in his minor league career but has mostly been a reliever since 2024. The deal is little more than a depth flier for the Phillies. Their rotation is pretty set with Cristopher Sánchez and Zack Wheeler leading the way. Sánchez finished as the NL Cy Young runner-up for the second straight year. Wheeler remains highly effective as the No. 2 guy, and Jesús Luzardo is overqualified as the No. 3 option. Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter round out the group. Bringing on Kranick as depth doesn’t hurt, even if it’s a long shot that he actually sticks as a starter. As the Phillies were reminded at the end of their regular season, injuries can throw an entire rotation off course heading into the playoffs. The Phillies have one pitching prospect in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100. That prospect is right-hander Gage Wood, a flamethrower who was the team’s first-round draft pick in 2025. He reached the Double-A level in 2026 but struggled with the long ball. He’s no guarantee to make the Majors in 2027. Most of the team’s other pitching prospects are in the lower levels of the minors. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski figures to add more depth starters beyond Kranick, with Aaron Civale and Zack Littell listed as speculative fits in our Offseason Outlook series. Photo courtesy of Brad Mills, Imagn Images View Comments (0)