The Philadelphia Phillies have plenty of recognizable names hitting free agency this offseason.
Headliners like Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Ranger Suárez are sure to attract significant interest once players are permitted to negotiate with other teams—five days after the World Series concludes.
But one Phillies infielder has already entered the open market.
Donovan Walton, a 31-year-old utility player who spent most of 2025 with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, has elected free agency, according to his official transaction log. He appeared in just two major league games for Philadelphia this season.
After being called up from Triple-A on Sept. 8, Walton mostly rode the bench before being designated for assignment on Sept. 24. Following his removal from the 40-man roster, the Phillies kept him available as emergency depth during their postseason run.
Now that the Phillies have been eliminated, Walton is free to seek his next opportunity. Over six major league seasons with the Mariners, Giants, and Phillies, he’s appeared in 72 games.
In his brief stint with Philadelphia, Walton went 1-for-8 with a walk and an RBI. At Triple-A, however, he impressed with a .339/.413/.424 slash line, collecting 60 hits in 50 games.
Depth players like Walton often play a vital behind-the-scenes role during playoff pushes. It remains to be seen whether the Phillies look to bring him back—or if another team offers him a better shot at cracking a big-league roster in spring training.
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