1:17PM: The Phillies signed 17-year-old right-hander Ho Hua out of Taiwan for a bonus in the neighborhood of $500K, as initially reported by Francys Romero. As per Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the pool money obtained in the Degges trade helped the Phillies make the Hua signing.
11:24AM: The Phillies have added $250K of international bonus pool space in a trade with the Guardians, as Cleveland will receive minor league right-hander Ryan Degges in return. Both teams have announced the trade.
Degges was a 17th-round pick for Philadelphia in the 2024 draft. The UNC-Charlotte product has a 5.47 ERA over 24 2/3 combined innings with A-level Clearwater and high-A Jersey Shore this season, along with a 25% strikeout rate and a 12.9% walk rate. Most of Degges’ work came in high-A ball before an injury sent him to the IL in mid-May, and his two outings in Clearwater came as part of a rehab assignment.
The 23-year-old will now continue his pro career in Cleveland’s organization, while the Phillies add to their bonus pool. Teams spent most of their pool space when the 2026 international signing window opened last January, but any remaining money can still be added or traded in $250K increments. The Phillies may have their eyes on a particular player (or players) who are only now available on the market, and thus the club was in need of a bit more pool money.
