The Phillies couldn’t seem to decide if they wanted Lou Trivino on their team. After being released by two other teams during the 2025 season, the Phillies picked up the veteran righthanded reliever, and he pitched acceptably well in ten games down the stretch.
They re-signed him in the offseason, and he started the year at Lehigh
Valley. Come May, he exercised an opt-out clause in his contract, and the Orioles quickly scooped him up and placed him in their bullpen. His time there only lasted two games – one of which was a 0.2 inning/six run debacle.
After the Orioles released him, the Phillies re-signed him and returned him to AAA. At the end of June, he was called up for a brief stint where he gave up four runs in three innings. He then suffered a back injury which prompted a trip to the IL and a minor league rehab appearance. Once that was over, the Phillies dropped him from the 40-man roster but re-signed him to a minor league deal, and he spent the rest of the season at Lehigh Valley.
The stats (with the Phillies): 3 games, 3 IP, 12.00 ERA, 4 K, 4 BB
What went right
Trivino was 3-1 with a 2.64 ERA and eight saves in the minor leagues, if that counts for anything. And keep in mind that while he was released multiple times, they kept re-signing him, so there must be something about him the Phillies like.
What went wrong
He was largely awful whenever he stepped on the mound for a major league team. He recorded a 15.00 ERA in six appearances.
The future
Maybe the Phillies invite him to camp, but he’s 35 years old, and hasn’t pitched effectively in the majors since 2022. It feels like there have to be better options out there.
Final Grade: F
Based on how he performed in 2025, the Phillies thought Trivino could provide some depth for the bullpen. Unfortunately, at this stage of his career, he seems to no longer be able to get major league hitters out.
