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Phillies claim Jared Hughes off waivers from Reds

The Phillies will add the veteran right-hander to their bullpen after he struggled this season with the Reds.

Jared Hughes, here pitching for the Reds, is joining the Phillies bullpen.
Jared Hughes, here pitching for the Reds, is joining the Phillies bullpen.Read moreAP
    by Matt Breen
    Published 

The Phillies added another reliever Thursday afternoon by claiming veteran right-hander Jared Hughes off waivers from Cincinnati.

Hughes, 34, had a 4.10 ERA this season in 47 games with the Reds. He had 34 strikeouts and 19 walks in 48 1/3 innings. His struggles this year followed last season’s 1.94 ERA in 72 games.

“I’m really excited about this one,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “I had a conversation with him earlier in the day. He was especially enthusiastic and asking for the ball. You look back to last year, 70-plus innings. He has been really durable over the course of his career. He doesn’t strike many people out, but also puts the ball on the ground. He’s given up a few additional home runs this year that he didn’t give up last year. His last outing was really good.

Hughes is expected to join the Phillies on Saturday. This is his ninth major-league season, all spent in the National League. Opponents have hit .230 against Hughes this season after batting .209 against him last season.

“He’s a guy who has been a really dependable and successful reliever in this league,” Kapler said. “He’s in a similar mold to Mike Morin and Blake Parker. Our recent acquisitions are guys who have taken the baseball a lot. They have wanted the baseball a lot. They have been dependable and great teammates. They have some track record of success. It’s encouraging for all of those reasons.”

Hughes served a three-game suspension last weekend for his involvement in last month’s brawl between the Pirates and Reds. Hughes was ejected from that game before the benches cleared for drilling Starling Marte with a pitch in the ninth inning.

The Phillies made room for Hughes on the 40-man roster by transferring Edubray Ramos to the 60-day injured list. Ramos has not pitched since July 15 because of a right shoulder injury.

Extra bases

Pat Neshek is in Florida rehabbing his strained left hamstring. There remains a chance he could join the team in September...Vince Velasquez will start Friday’s series opener against Padres righthander Chris Paddack.