Philadelphia Phillies Sign Pat Misch; Release Scott Mathieson

The Philadelphia Phillies have added left-handed pitcher Pat Misch to the organization, while bidding farewell to 27-year-old hurler Scott Mathieson.

Misch was signed to a minor league contract, while the right-handed Mathieson has become a free agent. Both pitchers are career minor leaguers, seeing action in only a handful of games at the major league level each season.

Misch, 30, pitched in the New York Mets organization in 2011, making six big-league relief appearances and going 1-0 with a 10.29 ERA in seven innings. At the minor league level, he went 8-9 with a 4.00 ERA in 22 starts for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.

He had pitched in the Mets organization since 2009 and previously twirled for the San Francisco Giants. In six big-league seasons, he is 4-15 with a 4.80 ERA.

The Canada-born Mathieson, who had been in the Phillies’ system since 2002, appeared in four games in relief for the big club last season, going decision-less while posting a perfect 0.00 ERA. He spent most of the year with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, going 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 30 games, 12 of which he started.

He had spent parts of three seasons with the Phillies, going 1-4 with a 6.75 ERA in 15 games (eight starts).

In acquiring Misch, the Phillies are obtaining a pitcher who, according to The Sports Network, “is a crafty lefty that has also displayed the ability to dominate hitters in the minors. [He] is versatile enough to relieve or start.”

With the departure of Mathieson, they lose a pitcher who has “the versatility to pitch as a starter or reliever” and who  “can strike batters out,” per The Sports Network.

Misch is one of multiple New York Mets castoffs the Phillies have signed in recent years. Last season, they signed Luis Castillo, Les Walrond, Tim Redding and Aaron Heilman, all of whom had played for, or had been signed by, the Mets since 2008.

Other notable Mets’ castoffs they have signed in recent years include Nelson Figueroa, Raul Valdes and Brian Schneider.

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