The Philadelphia Phillies are making a smart, under-the-radar move to deepen their bullpen. With the memory of both Jhoan Duran and Jonathan Bowlan landing on the injured list at the same time still fresh, the team knows that depth is never a luxury — it's a necessity.

On Thursday afternoon, the Phillies announced they have claimed right-handed reliever Grant Holman off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. The 25-year-old former Athletics prospect has been optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but don't let that assignment fool you. This is an intriguing addition for some much-needed bullpen depth.

Holman already has big-league experience under his belt. In 2024 with the A's, he posted a solid 4.02 ERA across 18 appearances. Last season, he logged 22 games and 23 innings, finishing with a 5.09 ERA. While he hasn't taken the mound in the majors yet this year, his Triple-A numbers — a 6.75 ERA over three outings — are a small sample size that doesn't tell the full story of his potential.

Looking at his minor league track record, the numbers are far more encouraging. Since 2021, Holman has worked primarily as a reliever and opener, posting a 3.09 ERA with an impressive 181 strikeouts in 163 innings pitched. That kind of consistency and strikeout ability is exactly what teams look for when building bullpen depth.

A former sixth-round draft pick by the Athletics in 2021, Holman now joins a Phillies organization that knows how to develop arms. He'll report to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, where he'll be ready to step up if injuries strike again or if the team simply wants to shake things up later in the season.

For Phillies fans, this is a low-risk, high-upside move. Holman is young, has MLB experience, and could be a valuable piece in the bullpen puzzle as the season progresses. Whether he's called up for a spot start or to eat innings in relief, he's now an option — and options are what keep championship-caliber teams rolling.