Several teams completed trades before Christmas on December 19. There were other moves made that followed those trades, as the Phillies added another left-hander with Matt Strahm off to Kansas City. Plus, multiple players were designated for assignment in corresponding moves for the three “big” trades.
Phillies make trade with D-Backs
Shortly after the Phillies traded Matt Strahm to the Royals, Philadelphia added another left-hander. Reliever Kyle Backhus went from the Phillies to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Minor League outfielder Avery Owusu-Asiedu.
The 27-year-old Backhus is a sidearm left-hander who sits primarily in the low-90s with a sinker that he’ll regularly pair with a sweeper. Opposing left-handed hitters batted just .139 off Backhus with Arizona last season.
Owusu-Asiedu was a ninth-round pick by the Phillies back in the 2023 MLB Draft out of SIU-Edwardsville. The 22-year-old outfielder spent 2024 with Low-A Clearwater but hit .192 that year with the Threshers. Owusu-Asiedu struck out 129 times (27.7% Whiff%) in 98 games.
He had a better 2025, as he slashed .258/.366/.385 with seven home runs and 33 stolen bases.
Bido claimed by Rays
Osvaldo Bido is on the move again. The Rays claimed Bido on December 19, the same day that Tampa Bay traded Shane Baz to the Orioles.
Bido, who pitched very well in 2024 with the Athletics, was previously claimed off waivers by the Braves earlier this month.
Minor League signings & DFA moves
After the flurry of trades that went down on the 19th, there was a lot of action on the 40-man roster front.
Baltimore designated left-hander Josh Walker for assignment.
The Pirates, who acquired Brandon Lowe, Mason Montgomery, and Jake Mangum in a three-way trade with Tampa Bay and Houston, designated Marco Luciano and Tsung-Che Cheng for assignment.
San Francisco, which finalized the Adrian Houser signing, DFA’d outfielder Wade Meckler.
Alec Gamboa (Red Sox) and Chuckie Robinson (Dodgers) signed Minor League deals.
Matt Koperniak (Cardinals), Brandon Waddell (Mets), and Bryce Jarvis (Diamondbacks) were outrighted to Triple-A.
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