Anthony Swarzak: Clears waivers, becomes free agent
Rotowire
Swarzak cleared waivers and elected free agency Wednesday.
The righty reliever, whom Kansas City designated for assignment Saturday, has chosen to enter the open market rather than join Triple-A Omaha. Swarzak's 9.49 ERA through 12.1 innings this year doesn't figure to generate a ton of attention, but his veteran presence could certainly earn him an opportunity with another big-league club.
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Royals' Anthony Swarzak: DFA'd by Kansas City
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The Royals designated Swarzak for assignment Saturday, Alec Lewis of The Athletic reports.
The righty pitched to a horrendous 9.39 ERA in seven appearances after joining the Royals on June 18, allowing three home runs in 7.2 innings of relief. Despite his considerable struggles, Swarzak may still have enough of a big-league track record to draw interest from other clubs on waivers.
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Royals' Anthony Swarzak: Ineffective performances so far
Rotowire
Swarzak has allowed six runs in 5.1 innings since his contract was selected from Triple-A Omaha.
The veteran right-hander hasn't found any more success in Kansas City than he did before Arizona released him in April. Overall, Swarzak has a 9.90 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 8:1 K:BB across 10 innings this season. He is unlikely to see anything more than low-leverage work.
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Royals' Anthony Swarzak: Contract selected
Rotowire
Swarzak's contract was selected by the Royals on Friday.
Swarzak spent a brief period on the Diamondbacks' active roster in April, allowing five runs in 4.2 innings of work. He was released and then spent nearly a month in limbo before joining the Royals on a minor-league deal in late May. The 35-year-old does have some strong seasons on his resume, including a 2.33 ERA back in 2017, but he's struggled to a 5.34 ERA in 84.1 innings over the last four years, so he's unlikely to find himself in a high-leverage role.
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Royals' Anthony Swarzak: Joins KC
Rotowire
Swarzak signed a minor-league contract with the Royals on May 14.
The 35-year-old right-hander has yet to make his debut for his new organization, but he'll presumably report to Triple-A Omaha when the Royals deem him ready for game action. Before landing with the Royals, Swarzak made six big-league appearances out of the Arizona bullpen, posting a 9.64 ERA and 1.71 WHIP across 4.2 innings.
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Anthony Swarzak: Cut loose by Arizona
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks released Swarzak on Friday.
Arizona opted to part ways with Swarzak after he went unclaimed off waivers when he was designated for assignment a week earlier. The 35-year-old is now free to pursue work elsewhere, though he'll likely have to settle for a minor-league deal if he decides to keep his career going.
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Diamondbacks' Anthony Swarzak: Dropped from 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks designated Swarzak for assignment Sunday.
Swarzak's removal from the 40-man roster clears a spot for newly-acquired outfielder Nick Heath, who was called up to the big leagues after Tim Locastro (finger) was placed on the 10-day injured list. During his week-and-a-half-long stint with Arizona, Swarzak made six appearances out of the bullpen and gave up five earned runs over 4.2 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Anthony Swarzak: Contract selected by Arizona
Rotowire
Swarzak had his contract selected by the Diamondbacks on Wednesday and was recalled from the alternate training site.
The 35-year-old was reassigned to minor-league camp at the end of spring training but will join the big-league roster less than one week into the season. Swarzak will provide bullpen depth with Chris Devenski (personal) being placed on the restricted list.
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Diamondbacks' Anthony Swarzak: Reassigned to minor-league camp
Rotowire
Swarzak was reassigned to Arizona's minor-league camp Sunday.
The 35-year-old joined the Diamondbacks as a non-roster invitee in early March but was unable to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. Swarzak didn't appear in any games last season and posted a 4.56 ERA in 59 appearances between the Braves and Mariners during 2019.
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Diamondbacks' Anthony Swarzak: Joins Diamondbacks camp
Rotowire
Swarzak signed with Arizona as a non-roster invitee Thursday, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.
Swarzak has had success in the not-too-distant past, posting a 2.33 ERA in 77.1 innings of relief in 2017. He then struggled to a 5.08 ERA over the next two seasons before failing to crack a 40-man roster at any point last year. A sudden reversal of fortune in his age-35 campaign seems unlikely.
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Anthony Swarzak: Released by Phillies again
Rotowire
Swarzak was released by the Phillies on Monday, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Swarzak had been released back in late June before immediately being re-signed, but it appears his release this time will be more permanent. The 34-year-old is coming off a pair of seasons in which he recorded ERAs of 6.15 and 4.56, with FIPs well above 5.00 in both seasons, making him unlikely to be a particularly appealing option on the open market.
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Phillies' Anthony Swarzak: Joins player pool
Rotowire
Swarzak was added to the Phillies' 60-man player pool Friday, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.
Swarzak isn't on the Phillies' 40-man roster, but he should still have a decent chance to throw a fair amount of big-league innings this season. The veteran righty posted a 4.56 ERA in 53.1 innings with Seattle and Atlanta last season.
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Phillies' Anthony Swarzak: Released and re-signed
Rotowire
The Phillies released Swarzak but plan to re-sign him Monday, pending league approval, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Swarzak had been attending spring training on a minor-league deal, but he appeared to be in decent position to make the Opening Day roster before MLB suspended its season. Once the Phillies finalize Swarzak's new deal, he'll become the 54th member of the organization's 60-man roster pool, though it's not expected that he'll claim a spot on the 40-man roster. Between stops in Atlanta and Seattle in 2019, the right-handed reliever posted a 4.56 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 59 appearances.
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Phillies' Anthony Swarzak: Relief competition thins
Rotowire
Swarzak may have a clearer path to a roster spot after the Phillies demoted four other pitchers Thursday, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Austin Davis, Edgar Garcia, Cole Irvin and Reggie McClain all were sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday. That helps Swarzak's odds of earning a roster spot, though it's still not guaranteed, as he's not on the team's 40-man roster. The 34-year-old has saved four games in each of the last two seasons but hasn't recorded an ERA below 4.50 since 2017.
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Phillies' Anthony Swarzak: Inks deal with Philly
Rotowire
Swarzak signed a minor-league deal with the Phillies on Tuesday worth $1.5 million if he makes the 26-man roster, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Swarzak began the 2019 campaign with the Mariners but was traded to the Braves after early season struggles. The veteran righty started out well in Atlanta and recorded 17 holds, but the ineffectiveness resurfaced late in the season. The 34-year-old had a 4.56 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 52:27 K:BB over 53.1 innings between the two teams, and he'll likely need a strong spring training to secure a spot on Philadelphia's roster.
Swarzak (shoulder) will be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's game against San Diego, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Swarzak went down with shoulder inflammation shortly before the break, but the issue evidently wasn't particularly serious. He owns an excellent 0.52 ERA and a 32.8 percent strikeout rate since joining the Braves. A corresponding move has not yet been announced.
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Braves' Anthony Swarzak: Expected back after break
Rotowire
Swarzak (shoulder) will likely be reinstated from the 10-day injured list in San Diego after the All-Star break, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Swarzak was placed on the IL on Sunday with right shoulder inflammation, but he's not expected to miss much more than the minimum. Since being acquired by the Braves on May 20, he's posted a sparkling 0.52 ERA with 21 punchouts across 17.1 innings.
