The Phillies have acquired right-handed pitcher James Norwood from the San Diego Padres in exchange for infielder Kervin Pichardo and cash considerations, President of Baseball Operations David Dombrowski announced today.
Norwood, 28, spent the majority of the 2021 season with Triple-A El Paso, where he struck out 71 batters in 44.2 innings and posted a 4.43 ERA over 43 relief appearances, including a 1.84 mark over his final 12. He averaged 14.31 strikeouts per nine innings and allowed only three home runs. Norwood also made five scoreless appearances for the Padres.
Originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the seventh round of the June 2014 draft, Norwood pitched in the majors for parts of three seasons with the club (2018-20) before being traded to San Diego last April. He has a 3.67 ERA with just one home run allowed in 28 career relief major league relief appearances.
Pichardo, a 20-year-old infielder, played in 35 games last season between the rookie-level Florida Complex League Phillies, low-A Clearwater and high-A Jersey Shore, batting .247 in 105 plate appearances. Pichardo was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent in June 2019.
