Phillies claim pitcher Freddy Tarnok; Edmundo Sosa could move to outfield once Trea Turner returns

The Phillies made a small transaction on Saturday morning, claiming right-hander Freddy Tarnok off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. Tarnok was optioned to triple A Lehigh Valley and added to the 40-man roster. To make room on the 40-man, right-hander Dylan Covey (shoulder, hamstring) was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Tarnok, 25, made his big league debut in August 2022 with the Atlanta Braves. He was optioned shortly after and traded to the A’s in December of 2022 as part of the deal that sent catcher Sean Murphy to Atlanta.

He pitched to a 1.66 ERA over 21⅔ innings in 2023 with the A’s organization, but spent much of that year on the injured list. Tarnok was placed on the 60-day injured list that April with a strained right shoulder, and was placed on the 15-day injured list in August with a right calf strain.

He began this season on the 60-day injured list with right hip inflammation, but was recently reinstated. He was ranked No. 13 on MLB.com’s A’s top prospects list entering this season.

Tarnok has pitched to a 13.50 ERA across 7⅓ rehab outings with the triple-A Las Vegas. He throws hard but has struggled with his control. Tarnok posted a 13.9% walk rate with Las Vegas last year, and a 11.4% rate there this year.

“I guess he’s got a good arm,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “I guess we like his arm, big-time velocity. He’ll go to triple A and we’ll see what we’ve got.”

Tarnok has two minor league options and has experience pitching out of the bullpen and the rotation. He has a 4.10 ERA across 406⅓ innings in seven minor league seasons, with 436 strikeouts and 169 walks.

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Edmundo Sosa has spent only 5⅓ big-league innings in the outfield, but could be spending more time there whenever shortstop Trea Turner (hamstring) returns from the injury list. Sosa, who is filling in at shortstop, has hit .307/.378/.591 in 30 games going into Saturday. When asked how he would keep Sosa in the lineup when Turner returns, Thomson didn’t brush off the possibility of him playing the outfield.

“Absolutely [a possibility],” Thomson said. “If he keeps hitting like this, it’s going to be tough to keep him out of the lineup. So, got to find a spot for him someplace.”

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Thomson said that if this does happen, Sosa would like play one of the corner outfield spots. He added that Sosa would need to get some extra work in with outfield/first base/base running coach Paco Figueroa ahead of time. If Sosa moves to the outfield, the Phillies would like him to get about a week’s worth of shagging flies during batting practice.

Thomson said that the Phillies are “not there yet” with such a move for Sosa, but it is a possibility.

Turner, still recovering from the left hamstring strain suffered May 4, continued his rehab on Saturday afternoon.

“We did some change of direction,” Thomson said. “He ran, took some ground balls, moved him around a little bit. He’s going to hit in the [indoor batting] cage, probably just the cage. He usually doesn’t hit outside. He’s coming along fine.”

It is unclear if Turner will accompany the Phillies to London next weekend.