Pitcher Max Kranick has agreed to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training from the Philadelphia Phillies, offering the 29-year-old right-hander a variable salary and a chance to work as a starter, as Will Sammon of The Athletic reported.
The deal comes after Kranick spent the 2025 and 2026 seasons working back from a major elbow surgery that sidelined him from June 2025 until the Washington Nationals signed him in May 2026. During his time in Washington, he appeared in 17 games, posting a 9.33 ERA across 18 innings and a third while striking out 11 batters and walking 13.
Kranick also made minor league appearances for the Nationals organization, where he recorded a 4.32 ERA over 16 innings and two thirds. The Scranton, Pennsylvania native brings four years of major league experience to his new organization in Philadelphia.
Right-hander Max Kranick and the Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a deal, league sources said. It's a NRI/split contract that will give Kranick, 29, the opportunity to work as a starter.
His pitching arsenal relies heavily on a mix of fastballs and breaking pitches. According to the reported data, Kranick utilizes a four-seam fastball sitting in the mid-90s mph 37 percent of the time, paired with a slider in the high 80s at 29 percent, and a curveball in the low 80s at 24 percent.
| Pitch Type | Velocity | Usage Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Four-seam Fastball | Mid-90s mph | 37% |
| Slider | High 80s mph | 29% |
| Curveball | Low 80s mph | 24% |
| Sweeper | Low 80s mph | 7% |
| Sinker | Mid-90s mph | 3% |
The remaining usage breakdown includes a sweeper at 7 percent and a sinker at 3 percent, both thrown in the low to mid-90s range. The Phillies’ front office, led by president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, locked in the agreement during the general managers meetings in Las Vegas.
