The Philadelphia Phillies have signed right-handed reliever Zach Pop to a one-year Major League contract for the 2026 season. Pop, 29, hails from Brampton, Ontario, and had a tumultuous 2025 season, during which he played for three organizations. He was initially with the Toronto Blue Jays but was released early in April after an injury-plagued start. Subsequently, he signed minor league deals with the Seattle Mariners and the New York Mets, making a total of five MLB appearances in 2025. His performance included allowing 12 runs in 6 2/3 innings, pushing his career ERA to 4.88 over five seasons with various teams including the Marlins, Blue Jays, Mariners, and Mets. Known for a three-pitch mix—sinkers, sliders, and cutters—Pop generates a high ground-ball percentage (54.5% in 2025) with a fast sinker averaging 96.4 mph. His best season was in 2022 with Miami and Seattle, where he posted a 3.60 ERA in 18 appearances with the Marlins and allowed just four earned runs in 19 innings with the Mariners. The Phillies see potential in Pop’s ground-ball inducing ability and are adding him as bullpen depth, competing for a spot in spring training. Pop's contract marks his return to the majors after being designated for assignment multiple times in 2025. The signing reflects the Phillies' strategy to bolster their bullpen with low-risk, high-upside players, and he becomes the 39th player on their 40-man roster. The move has sparked some mixed reactions among fans and analysts, with some questioning his recent performance and others viewing it as a depth addition.