Erick Brito Leaves Phillies by Electing Free Agency
The Philadelphia Phillies lost 21 players who elected free agency, including minor league outfielder Erick Brito.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Baseball
Erick Brito elected free agency on Monday and left the Philadelphia Phillies organization. The Phillies announced that 21 players departed the organization through free agency.
Why it matters
The departures reflect the end of minor league contracts for players who did not secure a role within the organization. Brito's exit follows a season in which the Phillies changed managers and finished the regular season 88-74.
Brito hit .275/.372/.376 with one home run, 11 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 33 games this season, mostly at Double-A. Over a seven-year minor league career he has slashed .251/.344/.322 with seven home runs, 162 RBI, and 111 stolen bases, and he has never played in a major league game.
The players
Erick Brito
Venezuelan minor league outfielder who has spent his professional career in the Phillies system without appearing in a major league game.
Philadelphia Phillies
Major League Baseball franchise based in Philadelphia that finished the 2026 regular season 88-74 under interim manager Don Mattingly.
Don Mattingly
Former New York Yankees first baseman and manager who was promoted to interim Phillies manager after Rob Thomson was fired and later signed to manage the team for two more seasons.
The details
Brito, born May 25, 2002, in Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela, signed a minor league contract with the Phillies on Nov. 29, 2018, and reached Triple-A for the first time in 2025. He missed time this season due to multiple injuries.
Timeline
Nov. 29, 2018: Brito signed a minor league contract with the Phillies.
2025: Brito reached Triple-A for the first time.
April 2026: The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson after a 9-19 start.
Monday: Brito elected free agency.
Season Trajectory
The departure of 21 players reflects the annual roster turnover that follows each MLB season as minor league contracts expire. For the Phillies, the exits arrive after a season that began with a 9-19 start and ended with an 88-74 finish under Mattingly.
Brito's departure removes a player with 13 stolen bases this season from the Phillies' minor league depth chart. Fantasy managers tracking Phillies prospects will need to drop him from any watch lists.
The takeaway
Minor league free agency is a routine part of each offseason, and players like Brito often continue their careers elsewhere. Readers following the Phillies can track roster changes as the organization prepares for the next season.
Further reading
For more on roster moves across the league, see Baseball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
